Exploring nurses' experiences: Abandoning the profession and migrating for improved opportunities.

AIM: This study explores nurses' experiences in migration for employment and professional abandonment in Barcelona (Spain). METHODS: Employing a mixed-design approach comprising 1) a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study, followed by 2) a subsequent cross-sectional study, 20 and 225 nurses participated in each study, respectively. Qualitative data, gathered through 4 focus group discussions, underwent inductive thematic analysis, following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines, while quantitative data were descriptively analyzed. FINDINGS: Three qualitative themes emerged: 1) Migration motives, such as improved job opportunities, permanent contracts, continuous training, and professional recognition; 2) Reasons for leaving or contemplating leaving the profession, including excessive workload, lack of recognition, limited development, and exhaustion; 3) Nurses' needs, encompassing more staffing, improved remuneration, permanent contracts, flexible schedules, greater autonomy, and career growth. The cross-sectional study revealed a 13.5 % professional abandonment rate at some point across all demographics and seniority levels. Migration trends varied by professional experience, with younger nurses seeking better conditions and opportunities elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: Multifactorial causes underlie job migration and professional abandonment, necessitating comprehensive interventions to improve nurses' working and professional conditions.

The effectiveness of a "EspaiJove.net"- a school-based intervention programme in increasing mental health knowledge, help seeking and reducing stigma attitudes in the adolescent population: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the universal mental health literacy intervention "EspaiJove.net" in increasing mental health knowledge, help seeking and reducing stigma attitudes in the adolescent population. We also examine whether these effects depend on the intervention intensity.  METHODS: A clustered school-based randomised controlled trial (cRCT) design. SUBJECTS: 1,298 secondary pupils aged 13 and 14 were recruited from 18 schools in Barcelona (Spain) between September 2016 and January 2018. INTERVENTION: Three programmes were assessed: 1) Sensitivity Programme (SP; 1 h); 2) Mental Health Literacy (MHL; 6 h); 3) MHL plus a first-person Stigma Reduction Programme (MHL + SR; 7 h); 4) Control group (CG): waiting list. OUTCOME MEASURES: 1) MHL: EspaiJove.net EMHL Test (First part and Second Part); 2) Stigma: RIBS and CAMI; 3) Help-seeking and use of treatment: GHSQ. ANALYSIS: The data was collected at baseline, post-intervention and 6 and 12 months later. An intention-to-treat analysis and imputation method was used to analyse the missing data. Intervention effects were analysed using multilevel modelling. RESULTS: One thousand thirty-two students were included (SP = 225; MHL = 261; MHL + SR = 295 and CG = 251). The MHL and MHL + SR interventions showed short- and long-term an increase in knowledge compared to SP and CG, but no significant change post-intervention or over time (First part p = 0.52 and Second part p = 0.62) between intervention groups and CG. No significant changes were found in stigma scores post-intervention or over time (CAMI p = 0.61 and RIBS p = 0.98) or in help-seeking scores (parent p = 0.69; teacher p = 0.23 and healthcare professional p = 0.75). The MHL + SR intervention was the best valued and recommended (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The three interventions of the EspaiJove.net programme (SP, MHL and MHL + SR) seem not to be effective in terms MHL, Stigma and help-seeking behaviours. The contact with a person who has experimented mental illness first-hand did not reduce stigma attitudes. Further research should deal with the heterogeneity of MHL interventions (concept, duration and measures) and identify which components of stigma interventions are effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03215654 (registration date 12 July 2017).

[Quality of life in people with depression and physical comorbidity from a gender perspective]. / Calidad de vida en personas con depresión y comorbilidad física desde una perspectiva de género.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe from a gender perspective how people with depression and physical comorbidity perceive their quality of life. The study included 380 people over 49 years of age with at least one of the following pathologies: diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischemic heart disease. Participants were recruited from 31 teams the primary care of in Catalonia. Quality of life was measured using the EuroQol Scale. In addition, sociodemographic variables were collected, as well as the severity of depression, the index of economic deprivation and area of residence. The adjusted relationship between sex and dimensions of quality of life was assessed by means of multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: 81.3% were women; the mean age was 68.4 years (SD: 8.8). The mean on the Visual Analogue Scale was 57.8 (SD: 17.4) in men and 55.8 (SD: 18.6) in women. The mean of the EQ-Health Index was 0.74 (SD: 0.17) in men and 0.65 (SD: 0.2) in women (p = 0.001). The probability of having problems of the EQ-5D showed sex as the most important factor (woman = 1/man = 0) in: self-care OR: 2.29 (95% CI 1.04-5.07) and daily activities OR: 3.09 (95% CI 1.67-5.71). Mobility was associated with age OR: 1.87 (95% CI 1.22-2.86), pain with area of residence OR: 2.51 (95% CI 1.18-5,34) and the BDI with anxiety/depression OR: 4,77 (95% CI 1.77-12,88). CONCLUSION: The perception quality of life of women with depression and physical comorbidity is lower than that of men and, in both cases, it is lower than that of the general population.

Effectiveness of a psychoeducation group intervention conducted by primary healthcare nurses in patients with depression and physical comorbidity: study protocol for a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are the third leading cause of consultation in primary care, mainly in patients with chronic physical illnesses. Studies have shown the effectiveness of group psychoeducation in reducing symptoms in depressive individuals. Our primary aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention based on a psychoeducational program, carried out by primary care nurses, to improve the remission/response rate of depression in patients with chronic physical illness. Secondarily, to assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention, its impact on improving control of the physical pathology and quality of life, and intervention feasibility. METHODS/DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized, clinical trial, with two groups and one-year follow-up evaluation. Economic evaluation study. SUBJECTS: We will assess 504 patients (252 in each group) aged > 50 years assigned to 25 primary healthcare centers (PHC) from Catalonia (urban, semi-urban, and rural). Participants suffer from major depression (Beck depression inventory: BDI-II 13-28) and at least one of the following: type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and/or ischemic cardiopathy. Patients with moderate/severe suicide risk or severe mental disorders are excluded. Participants will be distributed randomly into the intervention group (IG) and control (CG). INTERVENTION: The IG will participate in the psychoeducational intervention: 12 sessions of 90 min, once a week led by two Primary Care (PC) nurses. The sessions will consist of health education regarding chronic physical illness and depressive symptoms. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Clinical remission of depression and/or response to intervention (BDI-II). SECONDARY MEASUREMENTS: Improvement in control of chronic diseases (blood test and physical parameters), drug compliance (Morinsky-Green test and number of containers returned), quality of life (EQ-5D), medical service utilization (appointments and hospital admissions due to complications), and feasibility of the intervention (satisfaction and compliance). Evaluations will be blinded, and conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 12 months follow-up. DISCUSSION: Results could be informative for efforts to prevent depression in patients with a chronic physical illness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03243799 (registration date August 9, 2017).

"EspaiJove.net"- a school-based intervention programme to promote mental health and eradicate stigma in the adolescent population: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: One half of adults who develop any mental disorder do so during adolescence. Previous literature showed that Mental Health Literacy (MHL) interventions impact mental health knowledge, reduce the associated stigma, and promote help-seeking among the adolescent population. However, evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these programmes remains inconclusive. The aim of this paper is to present a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of the " EspaiJove.net " programme. " EspaiJove.net " consists of a universal MHL intervention designed to promote mental health knowledge, increase help-seeking, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and prevent mental disorders in Spanish school settings. METHODS: A school-based clustered randomised controlled trial (cRCT) design with 12 months of follow-up. SUBJECTS: At least 408 secondary school students who attend the 3rd year of E.S.O (Compulsory secondary education for 13- to 14-year- olds) will be recruited from 8 schools within Barcelona city, Catalonia (Spain). INTERVENTION: A dose-response intervention will be delivered with 4 arms: 1) Sensitivity Programme (SP) in Mental Health (1 h); 2) Mental Health Literacy (MHL) Programme (6 h); 3) MHL plus first-person Stigma Reduction (MHL + SR) (7 h); 4) Control group: waiting list. Primary outcomes: 1) MHL: EspaiJove.net MHL Test (EMHLT); 2) Stigma: Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS) and Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI). Others outcomes: 1) Acceptability of intervention; 2) Mental health symptoms and emotional well-being (SDQ); 3) States of Change Scale (SCS); 4) Bullying and Cyberbullying; 5) Quality of life (EQ-5D); 6) Help seeking and use of treatment; 7) Health benefits. DISCUSSION: Results would be informative for efforts to prevent mental disorders and promote mental wellbeing in secondary school students. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03215654 (date registration July 12, 2017).

Evaluation of a group intervention based on Mindfulness in patients with anxiety and depression cared for in mental health community center: a quasy-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness a group intervention based on Mindfulness in patients with anxiety and depression treated in a community mental health center. Secondarily, evaluate quality of life and adherence to the intervention. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study with evaluations pre-post intervention in people over 18 years of age treated at the Les Corts Adult Mental Health Center (AMHC), Barcelona, between March 2015 and December 2019. INCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) anxiety symptoms (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale >10 points); (2) sign informed consent. Variables collected: (1) anxiety; (2) depression (Beck Depression Inventory); (3) quality of life (EuroQoL) and (4) adherence to the intervention. The intervention (9 weekly sessions; 75min) was carried out by two nurses. Each group consisted of 10-15 patients. RESULTS: 128 patients were included, of which 103 were women with a mean age of 52.23 years (SD 12.78). Comparisons pre and post measures, its showed improvements in relation to anxiety, depressive symptoms and general quality of life (p<0.001) and in its dimensions of anxiety-depression (p=0.003). The mean number of sessions attended was 6.17 (SD 2.31), and they were statistically significant and positively correlated with an improvement in anxiety (p<0.001) and depressive symptoms (EQ-5D) (p=0.021). There were no differences between age groups. CONCLUSION: The group intervention based on Mindfulness improves anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as the quality of life. This improvement in the symptomatology is associated to greater adherence to the intervention.

[Mental health literacy in spanish adolescents and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics]. / Alfabetización en salud mental en adolescentes españoles y su relación con las características sociodemográficas.

OBJECTIVE: Different studies identify mental health literacy as a protective factor for developing a mental health problem. The aim of this paper was to determine the degree of mental health literacy of the adolescent population of Barcelona, and its relationship with socio-demographic and educational variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Barcelona during the 2017-2018 academic year. A total of 1,032 young people between thirteen and seventeen years of age participated. The following variables were collected: sex, age, nationality, socioeconomic status (RDHpc) and average school grade. The aim was to determine the degree of mental health literacy (knowledge, stigma and help-seeking) of the adolescent population of Barcelona, and its relationship with socio-demographic and educational variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed adjusting for the effect of sociodemographic variables on the score of each scale. RESULTS: The mean score (standard deviation) of the EMHL test was 7.28 (1.27) and 4.24 (1.14) respectively, with higher scores obtained by girls, high RDHpc, excellent score and Spanish nationality. The greatest difference in EMHL scores, adjusting for the rest of the variables, corresponded to adolescents with an excellent mean score and a high RDHpc index (with respect to the baseline category, beta=0.72 and 0.52 respectively). The mean stigma score was 27.6 (4.47) for CAMI and 8.83 (3.36) for RIBS. The variables related to a greater difference in score with respect to the baseline category and adjusted for the rest of the variables were: gender (boy=1.54) and academic grade (excellent=-2.38) for CAMI, and nationality (foreign=0.82) and academic grade (excellent=-1.30) for RIBS. The mean RIBS score was 8.83 (3.36) with the largest difference in score from baseline being foreign nationality (beta=0.82) and having a grade of excellent (1.30). Help-seeking was higher in parents and friends, with differences according to gender and nationality. CONCLUSIONS: The level of mental health literacy is medium-low. While gender, nationality and educational attainment are the factors that are related to knowledge and stigma, socio-economic status is only related to mental health literacy.

OBJECTIVE: Diferentes estudios identifican la alfabetización en salud y/o salud mental (ASM) como factores protectores contra el desarrollo de un problema de salud mental. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el grado de alfabetización en salud mental de la población adolescente de Barcelona, así como su relación con variables sociodemográficas y educativas. METHODS: Se realizó un estudio transversal en Barcelona durante el curso 2017-2018. Participaron 1.032 jóvenes entre trece y diecisiete años. Se recogieron las siguientes variables: sexo; edad; nacionalidad; nivel socioeconómico (RDHpc); y nota media escolar. La ASM se midió mediante los test de conocimientos EMHL (reconocimiento de problemas mentales y conocimientos en salud mental; rango 0-10 cada parte), estigma (CAMI: rango 10-50, y RIBS: rango 4-20) y búsqueda de ayuda (GHSQ: rango de 1 a 7). Se realizó análisis de regresión lineal múltiple ajustando el efecto de variables sociodemográficas sobre la puntuación de cada escala. RESULTS: La puntuación media (desviación típica) del EMHL test fue de 7,28 (1,27) y 4,24 (1,14), respectivamente, obteniendo mayor puntuación las chicas, RDHpc altas, nota excelente y con nacionalidad española. La mayor diferencia de puntuación en EMHL, ajustando por el resto de variables, correspondió a los adolescentes con nota media excelente y con índice RDHpc elevado (respecto a la categoría basal, beta=0,72 y 0,52, respectivamente). La puntuación media del estigma fue 27,6 (4,47) para CAMI y 8,83 (3,36) para RIBS. Las variables relacionadas con una mayor diferencia de puntuación respecto a la categoría basal y ajustado por el resto de variables fueron: sexo (chico=1,54) y nota académica (excelente=-2,38) para CAMI, y nacionalidad (extranjera=0,82) y nota académica (excelente=-1,30) para RIBS. La puntuación media de RIBS fue 8,83 (3,36), siendo la mayor diferencia de puntuación respecto a la categoría basal la nacionalidad extranjera (beta=0,82) y tener una nota de excelente (1,30). La búsqueda de ayuda fue mayor en padres/madres y amigos, con diferencias según sexo y nacionalidad. CONCLUSIONS: El nivel de alfabetización de salud mental es medio-bajo. Mientras que género, nacionalidad y resultados académicos son los factores que se relacionan con conocimientos y estigma, el nivel socioeconómico se relaciona únicamente con conocimientos en salud mental.

Incidence of Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Catalonia: An Observational Study of Protective and Risk Factors.

Pregnancy and childbirth have a great impact on women's lives; traumatic perinatal experiences can adversely affect mental health. The present study analyzes the incidence of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Catalonia in 2021 from data obtained from the Registry of Morbidity and Use of Health Resources of Catalonia (MUSSCAT). The incidence of perinatal PTSD (1.87%) was lower than in comparable studies, suggesting underdiagnosis. Poisson regression adjusting for age, income, gestational weeks at delivery, type of delivery, and parity highlighted the influence of sociodemographics, and characteristics of the pregnancy and delivery on the risk of developing perinatal PTSD. These findings underline the need for further research on the risk factors identified and for the early detection and effective management of PTSD in the perinatal setting.

Experiences of Spanish nurses in the rollout of nurse prescribing: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Nurse prescribing has legal recognition in Spain, after a long regulatory process, with confusing, changing legislation that does not fully coincide with the reality of nurses' practice. There is currently no research available on how nurses have experienced the rollout of nurse prescribing. The objective of this study is to describe the experiences of nurses in the rollout of nurse prescribing in the province of Barcelona, Spain. Method: A descriptive qualitative study with intentional sampling was carried out between March 2021 and July 2022. The data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and discussion groups. The participants were 24 nurses working in the province of Barcelona who were accredited in nurse prescribing or involved in the rollout of nurse prescribing. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, following Braun and Clark. The COREQ checklist was used to report findings. Results: We describe nurses' responses on the following themes: internal and external barriers; strategies to support nurse prescribing in the initial rollout and proposals for improvement; and factors linked to nurses' satisfaction. Discussion: The regulatory process has provided a safety framework for nurse prescribing. Strategies are needed for its comprehensive development and its acceptance among the public. The findings give visibility to nurse prescribing internationally.

Effectiveness of a psycho-educational group program for major depression in primary care: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Studies show the effectiveness of group psychoeducation in reducing symptoms in people with depression. However, few controlled studies that have included aspects of personal care and healthy lifestyle (diet, physical exercise, sleep) together with cognitive-behavioral techniques in psychoeducation are proven to be effective.The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a psychoeducational program, which includes aspects of personal care and healthy lifestyle, in patients with mild/moderate depression symptoms in Primary Care (PC). METHODS: In a randomized, controlled trial, 246 participants over 20 years old with ICD-10 major depression were recruited through nurses/general practitioners at 12 urban Primary Care Centers (PCCs) in Barcelona. The intervention group (IG) (n=119) received a group psychoeducational program (12 weekly, 1.5 h sessions led by two nurses) and the control group (CG) (n=112) received usual care. Patients were assessed at baseline and at, 3, 6 and 9 months. The main outcome measures were the BDI, EQ-5D and remission based upon the BDI. RESULTS: 231 randomized patients were included, of whom 85 had mild depression and 146 moderate depression. The analyses showed significant differences between groups in relation to remission of symptoms, especially in the mild depression group with a high rate of 57% (p=0.009) at post-treatment and 65% (p=0.006) at 9 month follow up, and only showed significant differences on the BDI at post-treatment (p=0.016; effect size Cohen's d'=.51) and at 6 and 9 month follow-up (p= 0.048; d'=.44).In the overall and moderate sample, the analyses only showed significant differences between groups on the BDI at post-treatment, p=0.02 (d'=.29) and p=0.010 (d'=.47), respectively.The psychoeducation group improved significantly on the EQ-5D at short and long-term. CONCLUSIONS: This psychoeducational intervention is a short and long-term effective treatment for patients with mild depression symptoms. It results in a high remission rate, is recommended in PC and can be carried out by nurses with previous training. In moderate patients, group psychoeducation is effective in the short-term. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT00841737.

Effectiveness of Mental Health Literacy Programs in Primary and Secondary Schools: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

In recent years, there has been an increase in studies evaluating the effectiveness of mental health literacy programs within the context of education as a universal, preventive intervention. A systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the effectiveness of mental health literacy interventions in schools, from 2013 to the present, on mental health knowledge, stigma, and help-seeking is conducted. Of the 795 identified references, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Mental health knowledge increased after the interventions (standardized mean difference: SMD = 0.61; 95% CI (0.05, 0.74)), at two months (SMD = 0.60; 95% CI (0.4, 1.07)) and six months (SMD = 0.39; 95% CI (0.27, 0.51)). No significant differences were observed between stigma and improving help-seeking. Mental health literacy interventions are effective in augmenting mental health knowledge, but not in reducing stigma or improving help-seeking behavior.

Preferred sources of help for mental health problems among Chilean adolescents: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: A timely search for professional help regarding mental health issues in adolescents is critical in preventing severe disorders. However, adolescents generally tend not to seek help. This investigation aimed to study Chilean adolescents' willingness to seek help in mental health issues by identifying their preferred help-seeking sources. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional-correlational study with 493 high school students between 14 and 19 years of age (mean ± standard deviation = 16.28 ± 1.29). The instruments we used were the general help-seeking questionnaire (vignette version), adapted and validated in Chile, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS: Data showed that adolescents are more willing to seek help from informal rather than from formal sources. We identified no sex differences in terms of willingness to seek help from formal sources. However, males were more willing to seek help from informal sources. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to other cultures, Chilean adolescents are more willing to seek help from informal sources regarding mental health problems.

Validation and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the questionnaire for assessing the childbirth experience (QACE).

OBJECTIVE: When evaluating childbirth experience, some of the factors considered by women include their previous births experience, pain management during birth, and companion and healthcare professional support received. The objective of this paper is to validate the Questionnaire for Assessing the Childbirth Experience (QACE) into the Spanish population by assessing its psychometric properties. METHODS: Due to the differences between the Spanish and English languages, a careful translation process was the first step to making the QACE useable to Spanish speaking cohorts, once thoroughly translated their conceptual equivalence was evaluated by a group of experts and tested later via interviews with postpartum women for comprehensibility evaluation. Secondly, the validation process was obtained throughout the factorial analysis, internal consistency, test-retest evaluation and convergent and discriminant validity. RESULTS: A total of 268 postpartum women participated in the validity study. The KMO (0.84) and Bartlett test (p < 0.001) confirmed the adequacy of factor analysis and the Screen plot showed four factors with the predictive power of 52.63%, which supported total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate/good fitness for the new model (χ2/df = 1.47, GFI = 0.979, RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.889, NFI = 0.727, NNFI = 0.873, and SRMR = 0.155). Internal consistency was confirmed with McDonal's Omega level of 0.818. Test-retest evaluation supported test stability (r = 0.79, p < 0.01). Convergent and discriminant validity were obtained with 0.803 and 0.475 Pearson coefficients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of QACE is a relevant tool for measuring childbirth experience into the Spanish context with acceptable validity and stability.

Effectiveness of a Psychoeducational Group Intervention Carried Out by Nurses for Patients with Depression and Physical Comorbidity in Primary Care: Randomized Clinical Trial.

The association between physical illness and depression implies a poorer management of chronic disease and a lower response to antidepressant treatments. Our study evaluates the effectiveness of a psychoeducational group intervention led by Primary Care (PC) nurses, aimed at patients of this kind. It is a randomized, multicenter clinical trial with intervention (IG) and control groups (CG), blind response variables, and a one year follow-up. The study included 380 patients ≥50 years of age from 18 PC teams. The participants presented depression (BDI-II > 12) and a physical comorbidity: diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and/or asthma. The IG (n = 204) received the psychoeducational intervention (12 weekly sessions of 90 min), and the CG (n = 176) had standard care. The patients were evaluated at baseline, and at 4 and 12 months. The main outcome measures were clinical remission of depressive symptoms (BDI-II ≤ 13) and therapeutic response (reduction of depressive symptoms by 50%). Remission was not significant at four months. At 12 months it was 53.9% in the IG and 41.5% in the CG. (OR = 0.61, 95% CI, 0.49-0.76). At 4 months the response in the IG (OR = 0.59, 95% CI, 0.44-0.78) was significant, but not at 12 months. The psychoeducational group intervention led by PC nurses for individuals with depression and physical comorbidity has been shown to be effective for remission at long-term and for therapeutic response at short-term.

[Literacy programs for the promotion of mental health in the school setting. SESPAS Report 2020]. / Programas de alfabetización para la promoción de la salud mental en el ámbito escolar. Informe SESPAS 2020.

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of developing programs of mental health promotion and prevention to ensure the wellbeing of young people. Mental health literacy in schools is an example of universal prevention intervention. The objective of this article is to conduct a systematic review of the mental health literacy interventions in the educational setting that are being carried out at the international level and to describe and evaluate, as well, an experience at the local level. A search has been carried out in PubMed to identify experimental studies on mental health literacy interventions in the educational setting including primary and/or secondary. Out of 245 references identified, 13 experimental studies were included in the review and its quality was assessed. Results show that these programs increase mental health knowledge, improve help-seeking and reduce stigma behavior. In Barcelona, the Espaijove.net mental health literacy program has been running since 2008. In the last seven school courses (2012-2019) workshops have been provided to 24,118 secondary school students, of whom 11,678 completed a post-workshop satisfaction questionnaire. The results show that the program has been interesting, useful, has resolved students' doubts and that they would recommend it to other students, and a better reception by the girls.

Development and Validation of the EspaiJove.net Mental Health Literacy (EMHL) Test for Spanish Adolescents.

There is evidence of the effectiveness of implementing mental health literacy (MHL) programs. However, there are substantial limitations in the instruments available for measuring MHL. This study aimed to develop and validate the EspaiJove.net MHL test (EMHL) for Spanish adolescents by assessing its psychometric properties. The development of the EMHL test was conducted using item pool generation and a pilot study. A convenience sample of students aged 13-15 years (n = 355) participated in the validity study. Reliability was assessed for internal consistency and via test-retest. Convergent validity was evaluated by comparing the effect sizes among known groups with different levels of mental health knowledge, the correlation with mental health-related instruments, and the item discrimination index. A final version of a 35-item EMHL test was obtained with two parts: (i) a binary choice format (yes/no) for the identification of mental disorders; (ii) a multiple choice question with four possible answer options. Internal consistency was acceptable in the first part (Cronbach's alpha = 0.744; Guttman's lambda 2 = 0.773) and almost acceptable in the second part (Cronbach's alpha = 0.615; Guttman's lambda 2 = 0.643). The test-retest evaluation supported the stability of the test (first part, ICC = 0.578; second part, ICC = 0.422). No ceiling and floor effects were found. The EMHL test scores discriminated between known groups with different levels of mental health knowledge and it is associated with several-related constructs of MHL. Conclusions: The EMHL test is a relevant measure for assessing MHL in adolescents into Spanish context with acceptable validity and stability.

Preferred sources of help for mental health problems among Chilean adolescents: a descriptive study / Fuentes de ayuda preferidas para problemas de salud mental por adolescentes chilenos: estudio descriptivo

Abstract Background: A timely search for professional help regarding mental health issues in adolescents is critical in preventing severe disorders. However, adolescents generally tend not to seek help. This investigation aimed to study Chilean adolescents’ willingness to seek help in mental health issues by identifying their preferred help-seeking sources. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional-correlational study with 493 high school students between 14 and 19 years of age (mean ± standard deviation = 16.28 ± 1.29). The instruments we used were the general help-seeking questionnaire (vignette version), adapted and validated in Chile, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: Data showed that adolescents are more willing to seek help from informal rather than from formal sources. We identified no sex differences in terms of willingness to seek help from formal sources. However, males were more willing to seek help from informal sources. Conclusions: Similar to other cultures, Chilean adolescents are more willing to seek help from informal sources regarding mental health problems.

Resumen Introducción: La búsqueda de ayuda profesional oportuna para temas de salud mental en adolescentes es fundamental para evitar el desarrollo de trastornos más graves. No obstante, en general los adolescentes tienden a no solicitar ayuda. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue identificar las fuentes de ayuda para problemas de salud mental a las que los adolescentes chilenos están más dispuestos a dirigirse. Métodos: Estudio transversal-correlacional en el que participaron 493 estudiantes de secundaria de entre 14 y 19 años (media ± desviación estándar = 16.28 ± 1.29). Los instrumentos aplicados fueron el Cuestionario General de Búsqueda de Ayuda (versión viñeta), adaptado y validado en Chile, y un cuestionario de datos sociodemográficos. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los adolescentes prefieren buscar ayuda en fuentes informales. No se identificaron diferencias por sexo en la disposición a buscar ayuda en fuentes formales, pero sí en la disposición a buscar ayuda en fuentes informales, pues los varones mostraron mayor disposición a hacerlo. Conclusiones: En concordancia con la evidencia en otras culturas, los adolescentes chilenos presentan una mayor disposición a buscar ayuda para problemas de salud mental en fuentes informales.