Abstract :

Mental health literacy (MHL) is essential for university students, particularly in art institutions where psychological stressors are prevalent. However, limited awareness and stigma toward mental illness persist, impacting help-seeking behaviors. This study examines the effectiveness of a Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) in improving MHL, recognition of mental illness, and attitudes toward individuals with mental illness among art university students in Guangxi, China. A quasi-experimental research design with pre-test and post-test measures was used, involving 390 students divided into experimental and control groups. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, with survey questionnaires for quantitative analysis and semi-structured interviews for qualitative insights. Findings indicate that the MHEP significantly improved mental health literacy and illness recognition (p < .001), but attitudinal changes were minimal, suggesting the need for long-term stigma-reduction efforts. The study supports the integration of structured mental health education programs in universities and highlights the importance of experiential learning strategies for deeper attitude transformation.

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Keywords :

Mental health literacy, quasi-experimental study, mental health education, university students, Guangxi, China.

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