Adolescent mental health literacy, coping strategies and perceptions of resources to mitigate psychosocial challenges in the Western Cape.

Abstract

Adolescent mental illness contributes significantly to both the global and South African burden of mental health. The aim of this study was to explore adolescent mental health literacy, coping strategies and their perceptions of mental health mechanisms that mitigate the psychosocial challenges they encounter. To achieve this aim, the relationship between psychosocial stressors, coping, and psychosocial support and intervention was studied using a cross-sectional survey, which was administered in schools located in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study population comprised of adolescents aged from 15 years up to and including 19 years. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and limited access to schools the study was pivoted to the online platform. The surveys were administered via the relevant school’s online portals. Statistical tests were computed to explain the differences between groups and the relationship between variables. The intended contribution of this study was to add to the existing body of adolescent mental health literature and to create the impetus for further research pertaining to adolescent mental health literacy and mental health prevention and intervention for this cohort in the South African context.

Adolessente geestesgesondheid dra aansienlik by tot sowel die globale as Suid-Afrikaanse las van geestesgesondheid. Die doel van hierdie studie was om adolessente geestesgesondheid geletterdheid, hanterings strategieë en hul persepsies van geestesgesondheid meganismes wat die psigososiale uitdagings wat hulle ervaar, verminder, te verken. Om hierdie doel te bereik, is die verhouding tussen psigososiale stressors, hantering meganismes en psigososiale ondersteuning en intervensie, ondersoek, deur gebruik te maak van 'n dwarssnit opname wat in skole in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika, uitgevoer is. Die studie populasie het bestaan uit adolessente tussen die ouderdomme van 15 en insluitend 19 jariges. As gevolg van Covid-19- beperkings en beperkte toegang tot skole is die studie na die aanlyn platform omgeskakel. Die opnames is deur die betrokke skool se aanlyn platvorms geadministreer. Statistiese toetse is bereken om die verskille tussen groepe en die verhouding tussen veranderlikes, te verduidelik. Die intensie van hierdie studie was om by te dra tot die bestaande liggaam van literatuur oor adolessente geestesgesondheid en om die aansporing te skep vir verdere navorsing oor adolessente geestesgesondheid geletterdheid en geestesgesondheid voorkoming en -intervensie vir hierdie groep in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.

Izigulo ezimayelana nengqondo kulutsha okanye kwabafikisayo zinegalelo elikhulu kwimpilo yengqondo emhlabeni jikelele naseMzantsi Afrika. Injongo yoluphando ibikukuphonononga ukufunda ngempilo yengqondo kwabobafikisa, iindlela zokumelana nezinto nemibono ngeendlela zempilo yengqondo ezinciphisa imiceli mngeni ngokwasengqondweni abathi bayifumane. Ukuze kuphunyezwe lenjongo, kujongwe ubudlelwane phakathi kwezoxinzelelo lwengqondo, ukumelana nezinto, inkxaso ngezengqondo neenqubo ziye zafundwa kusetyenziswa uphando icross-sectional, oluqhutywe kwizikolo eziseNtshona Koloni eMzantsi Afrika. Oluphando lwenziwe kwabobafikisayo abaminyaka elishumi elinantlanu ukuya kwiminyaka elishumi elinethoba. Ngenxa yemiqathango ye Covid-19 nobunzima bokufikelela ezikolweni, oluphando lwaye lwenziwa kumaqonga asemoyeni. Uphando lwaqhutywa kumaqonga asemoyeni ezikolweni (online portals). Uvavanyo lweStatistics lweenziwa ukucacisa umehluko phakathi kwamaqela nokubonisa ubudlelwane. Igalelo loluphando kukwandisa ulwazi malunga nempilo yengqondo kulutsha okanye kwabafikisayo nokudala umdla kuphando olumayelana nokuqonda impilo yengqondo kwabo bafikisayo, ukukuthintela nemingeni kwimpilo yengqondo kweliqela kumhlaba waseMzantsi Afrika