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Primary schools: opportune settings for changing attitudes and promoting mental health
Author(s) -
Joyce Andrew,
Allchin Becca,
Malmborg Julie,
Candy Leigh,
Cowling Vicki
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he03216
Subject(s) - population health , mental health , health economics , public health , community health , health promotion , medicine , environmental health , medical education , public relations , psychology , nursing , political science , psychiatry
Issue addressed Reducing the prejudice towards mental illness in a primary school setting and creating a supportive environment for families where a parent has a mental illness. Methods Teacher workshops and classroom sessions for grades 5 and 6 children on mental illness. Results Significant increase in teachers' confidence to support a child whose parent has a mental illness. Reduced prejudice towards people with schizophrenia among the children. Conclusion The primary school setting appears to be an effective environment to promote mental health literacy and reduce the likelihood of negative stereotype formation.