The Mental Health Literacy and Prevention Survey (mHELP): a brief measure for assessing gatekeepers' mental health literacy in prevention research.

THEORETICAL

BACKGROUND

Mental health literacy (MHL) is a key target of prevention efforts to help gatekeepers such as teachers and other professionals recognize and respond to mental health problems in young people. To evaluate such mental health prevention initiatives, instruments that capture the multiple components of MHL in a concise and practical way are crucial. However, existing measures often assess only selected aspects of the construct or have not been comprehensively validated. Building on the established conceptualization of MHL, a brief and multidimensional measure suitable for prevention and implementation research is needed.

METHODS

The present study reports on the development and validation of the Mental Health Literacy and Prevention Survey (mHELP). Using baseline data from N = 556 teachers in Germany, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to examine the factor structure of the instrument. Moreover, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, split-half reliability, and construct validity were assessed.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses provided initial support for the proposed five-factor structure. Reliability was good for the total score as well as for the subscales Knowledge, Self-reported helping behavior, and Emotional understanding, whereas the Stigma and Confidence subscales showed weaker psychometric performance. Test-retest reliability over 6 months was moderate and split-half reliability of the total score was high. Initial evidence of construct validity was provided by expected associations with established measures of mental health knowledge and stigma, while low correlations with symptom measures suggested preliminary evidence of discriminant validity.

DISCUSSION: The mHELP represents a brief, multidimensional instrument for assessing MHL among gatekeepers, with the total score currently appearing to be the most robust indicator. At the subscale level, several dimensions showed satisfactory psychometric properties, whereas the Stigma and Confidence subscales require further refinement before separate interpretation can be recommended. By integrating multiple facets of MHL, including emotional understanding as a practice-informed component, the instrument may complement existing approaches while remaining practical for prevention research. Overall, the findings provide initial support for the utility of the mHELP, particularly at the total-score level, although further validation is needed, including refinement of selected subscales, sensitivity to change, and testing in more diverse and international samples.