The Every Mind Matters campaign: changes in mental health literacy and its associations with campaign awareness

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to investigate the effects on population level mental health literacy (MHL) of Every Mind Matters over 30 months following campaign launch. Methods To observe changes in MHL over time, we conducted regression analyses on a nationally representative, repeated cross-sectional dataset of nine survey waves from September 2019 to March 2022 and an individual participant data meta-analysis with data from October 2019 to March 2021 to examine the association between campaign awareness and the outcomes. Results There were small improvements in knowledge of management of stress, depression and anxiety, mental health vigilance, sleep literacy and psychological wellbeing self-efficacy from September 2019 to March 2020 and a deterioration in most MHL outcomes from March 2020 compared with September 2019. Campaign awareness was positively associated with symptom management of depression and anxiety, help seeking self-efficacy, stigma related to mental disorders and mental health vigilance. Conclusions There is little evidence that the campaign improved MHL in the general population beyond March 2020. Those who were aware of the campaign may have benefitted from its resources.