Preservice Teachers’ Positive Mental Health Literacy, Openness to Psychological Help-seeking, and Well-being

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Caring for Teachers: Stress, Isolation, and Collective Well-Being

Abstract

Most research on teachers’ mental health literacy (MHL) focused on their knowledge of mental disorders and its connection to students’ well-being. Teachers are often viewed as help providers but little attention is given to their own help-seeking. This study focuses on preservice teachers’ positive mental health literacy (PMHL), or knowledge of how to obtain and maintain good mental health, and its relationships with openness to psychological help-seeking and well-being. Using data from 470 preservice teachers, a model of PMHL predicting well-being through openness to psychological help-seeking was examined. Results of structural equation modeling showed that the model has good fit. PMHL predicted well-being directly and indirectly through openness to psychological help-seeking. Implications for preservice teacher training are discussed.

Author

• Ma. Jenina N. Nalipay, The Education University of Hong Kong