Mental Health Literacy Intervention on Help-Seeking in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Danran Bu, Pak-Kwong Chung, Chun-Qing Zhang, Jingdong Liu and Xiang Wang
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Danran Bu: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Pak-Kwong Chung: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Chun-Qing Zhang: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Jingdong Liu: Department of Physical Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Xiang Wang: Graduate School, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: Mental health literacy (MHL) is recognised as a major factor in whether athletes seek help when they experience mental health difficulties. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide a systematic review of the effectiveness of MHL training programmes in improving mental health knowledge and help-seeking and reducing stigma among athletes. To identify intervention studies of MHL programmes, five electronic databases were systematically searched for articles published before May 2020. The selection procedure was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All kinds of study designs were included. Effect sizes were calculated for mental health knowledge, stigma reduction and help-seeking attitudes, intentions and behaviours. Risk of bias was assessed for each study using the Cochrane tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale. Five studies (1239 participants in total) were selected for review. Overall, either small or medium effects were found for mental health knowledge, stigma reduction, help-seeking attitudes, and intentions for post- and follow-up interventions, whereas a null effect was found in help-seeking behaviours for both post- and follow-up interventions. Furthermore, three studies had a low risk of bias, and two had a high risk of bias. MHL interventions can enhance help-seeking attitudes and intentions and mental health knowledge and reduce stigma but do not increase help-seeking behaviours for now. Further studies should evaluate interventions to enhance help-seeking behaviours. Furthermore, the methodological quality of studies, including randomized controlled trials and other designs, should be improved in future research.

Keywords: mental health literacy; help-seeking; athletes; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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