[Mental Health Literacy: German version of a modified Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS-DE) - Psychometric evaluation and predictive factors].

Mental health literacy (MHL) is considered a key concept in dealing with mental illness. It encompasses knowledge about illnesses, risk factors, help-seeking behavior, and attitudes toward mental illness. Shame is also associated with these factors. In this study, a modified German version (MHLS-DE) was developed and tested on an online sample (N=533). The psychometric properties of the MHLS-DE and the role of shame as a mediator of MHL were investigated. The MHLS-DE achieved good reliability (Cronbach's χ=0.846) and structural validity. Gender-modulated mediation effects through shame experiences were found for the relationship between psychological flexibility and MHL. Despite ongoing conceptual ambiguities, mental health literacy can be reliably assessed with the MHLS-DE. The mediation analysis highlighted the role of feelings of shame in MHL, which should be considered in interventions to improve MHL.