Improving the Capacity of Non-Physician Primary Care Providers to Address Child and Youth Mental Health Through Mental Health Literacy Approaches.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Canadians rely on their primary care providers to address their mental health needs, but there are longstanding system gaps that must be addressed to enhance their ability to deliver mental health care. The present study addressed the gap in pediatric mental health care through the development, delivery, and evaluation of a mental health literacy training among non-physician primary care providers.

METHODS

We delivered the training among 97 participants, with all completed the pre-test survey, and 74 completed the post-test survey on knowledge, attitudes toward mental health, and help-seeking intentions. Additionally, participants explained why they attended the training and shared how they would apply the knowledge learned into their practice (behaviors).

RESULTS

Participants improved their knowledge significantly from pre-test to post-test,  < .001,  = 2.51. We didn't find any statistical significance between pre-test and post-test on attitudes,  = .067, nor on help-seeking intentions,  = .274. However, participants' scores were exceedingly high on both outcomes, indicating positive attitudes and intentions at 2 time points and implying a ceiling effect of both outcomes. We did not find outcome differences by demographics, practice year, practice zone, or professional role. While knowledge, years of practice and prior mental health training predicted participants attitudes at pre-test, they didn't at post-test. Attitudes toward mental health predicted help-seeking intentions. Participants indicated this training will change their practice behaviors.

CONCLUSION

This mental health literacy training for primary care providers demonstrated strong evidence of the need to integrate mental health and addiction support into primary care practice.