Quality of Mental Health Information amongst University Students in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Approximately one in four people worldwide are living with mental disorders, prompting Zimbabwe to initiate awareness and education campaigns targeting young people. This study assesses the quality of mental health information among university students in Zimbabwe, focusing on its impact on literacy and help-seeking behaviours. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining an online questionnaire survey with university students and content analysis of conveniently selected mental health fact sheets. The findings reveal that while mental health information in Zimbabwe demonstrates strengths in areas such as completeness, validity, and timeliness, it falls short in terms of perceived accuracy, uniqueness, and consistency, with a limited impact on behaviour change. The study also shows that mental health information has a positive impact on literacy among university students, emphasizing the importance of quality information in promoting mental health awareness. Highlighted is the need for collaborative efforts among mental health experts, researchers, and health information designers to develop creative, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive interventions that inform, motivate and empower individuals to prioritize their mental health. To improve the quality and impact of mental health information, recommendations include building credibility, prioritizing creative content design, developing national messaging guidelines, and creating interventions that promote health-seeking behaviours and action.