Abstract

Mental health literacy has been recognized as one of the most important mental health determinants with a potential to improve the mental health of both individuals and the population. This concept was first described in 1997, mostly defined as the knowledge and beliefs about mental health and mental disorders which help the recognition, management, and prevention of mental health problems or disorders (Jorm et al. 1997). Studies from different countries conducted with different methodologies have suggested a lack of knowledge at both public and specific age-group levels about how to prevent and recognize mental health problems and mental disorders, how to provide first support to people manifesting mental health problems, and about the available and useful forms of help. By giving an overview of the development of mental health literacy as a research construct, this paper aims to contribute to the knowledge, understanding, and expansion of research interest in this field, its methodology and results, as well as their implications for the prevention of mental disorders and preservation of mental health.