# Exploring mental health literacy and its associated factors among health care providers: a National Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study explores how well healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia understand mental health and how factors like gender and education influence this understanding.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into mental health literacy among Saudi healthcare providers and identifies key demographic associations.

## Key findings

- Female healthcare providers had significantly higher mental health literacy scores than males.
- Higher education levels were associated with better mental health recognition and information-seeking behaviors.
- Younger and higher-income healthcare providers showed more positive mental health attitudes.

## Abstract

This study aims to assess the level of mental health literacy (MHL) among healthcare providers working in different healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia and to examine how socio-demographic factors such as gender, education, age, and personal exposure to mental health conditions associate with MHL.

This is a cross-sectional study that used a computer-assisted telephone interview. The study followed a previously validated methodology, ensuring consistency and comparability for future studies. Interviewers were trained to adhere to the interview guidelines and data collection that were streamlined using the ZDataCloud system. Participants aged 18 years and above and from 13 administrative different regions in Saudi Arabia were included and informed consent was obtained verbally from all participants. Data collection included healthcare worker demographics, mental health history, and familiarity with mental health issues. The Arabic MHL scale was used to assess participants’ knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders. MHL scale has been validated in the population in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating strong reliability and validity.

The study revealed that female healthcare providers had significantly higher MHL scores in mental health recognition (females = 8.7 ± 1.2, males = 7.2 ± 1.5; p < 0.001) and attitudes (females = 9.3 ± 1.1, males = 7.8 ± 1.4; p < 0.001) compared to males. Healthcare providers with a Bachelor’s degree or higher exhibited higher score in mental health recognition (8.9 ± 1.3 vs. 7.1 ± 1.6; p < 0.001) and information-seeking (8.4 ± 1.4 vs. 7.2 ± 1.5; p = 0.003) compared to lower level of education. Younger participants (20–29 years old) showed more positive attitudes (p = 0.011), while those exposed to mental illness (p = 0.001) and higher-income earners (p = 0.040) demonstrated higher overall MHL.

Significant association between MHL domains and sociodemographic factors among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve MHL across among different healthcare groups.