Mental health literacy refers to the information an individual has regarding mental disorders. According to researchers, the general population is not necessarily knowledgeable about certain aspects of psychological well-being (Furnham & Swami, 2018). A workshop that touches upon this health topic will focus on providing people with insight in terms of recognizing symptoms of mental health disorders, preventing them, and adequately controlling these aspects. Moreover, such measures will effectively contribute to health outcomes, combat inequities, and create a more open-minded environment for individuals with poor mental health (Kutcher et al., 2016). This illustrates the importance of mental health literacy on a societal level.
As mentioned before, the primary goals involve informing the participants about symptoms and conditions and giving them tools to manage them in specific situations. The teacher will assess and improve the current understanding of the topic. This will be evaluated through open discussions and questions regarding the knowledge each individual possesses about mental health. Moreover, it is important to share personal experiences since this can be an effective learning tool (Merriam et al., 2007). The participants will discuss first-hand encounters with this topic and describe how they approached it.
Another goal is to provide individuals with new information and data regarding mental well-being and specific illnesses. The teacher will focus on different conditions and symptoms that correlate with the disease or mental state. To examine if the goal was fulfilled, each participant will choose one condition and describe it in detail. Individuals will structure the new information by describing their mental state and how it manifests. Another vital aim is to give people the tools to address the issue effectively. To examine the effectiveness of this objective, the students will simulate a situation in which they have encountered a problem that refers to someone’s mental state.
References
Furnham, A., & Swami, V. (2018). Mental health literacy: A review of what it is and why it matters. International Perspectives in Psychology, 7(4), 240–257. Web.
Kutcher, S., Wei, Y., & Coniglio, C. (2016). Mental health literacy: Past, present, and future. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(3), 154-158. Web.
Merriam, S.B., Caffarella, R.S., & Baumgartner, L.M. (2007). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide (3rd Edition). Wiley Professional Development (P&T).