- Title
- The effectiveness of online mental health first aid training in community rugby : a mixed-methods approach
- Creator
- Russell, Suzanna; Kelly, Vincent; Polman, Remco; Warren-James, Matthew
- Date
- 2023
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/194713
- Identifier
- vital:18404
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075391
- Identifier
- ISSN:1661-7827 (ISSN)
- Abstract
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training exists to improve supportive behaviours towards peers, increase mental health literacy, and reduce stigma. Community sport clubs have potential to successfully deliver mental health programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of online MHFA training undertaken by members of the rugby community and evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the online delivery mode and users’ engagement with it. A mixed-methods approach was used to provide depth of understanding through qualitative analysis, combined with quantitative outcomes. Online surveys examining participants’ knowledge and perceptions were administered pre- and post-MHFA training. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) across all assessed domains were observed post- compared to pre-MHFA training. A large effect size was identified in relation to advice giving and sign and symptom identification. A moderate effect size pre- to post-improvement was identified for users’ perceptions of therapy’s effectiveness, the ability of people with severe mental health conditions to recover, and benefit of a healthcare professional. Participants endorsed the MHFA program to improve mental health literacy, advance non-technical skills, and improve confidence. MHFA training can increase the awareness and knowledge of mental health issues in key individuals in community sport clubs and enable them to aid people with mental health concerns. Online MHFA training is associated with improved mental health literacy and may be a suitable and economically sustainable model for community sport. © 2023 by the authors.
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Relation
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 7 (2023), p.
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- Rights
- Copyright © 2023 by the authors
- Rights
- Open Access
- Subject
- MD Multidisciplinary; Community; Early identification; Mental health awareness; Mental health first aid; Mental health literacy; Mental health training; Rugby; Sport; Stigma; Symptoms
- Full Text
- Reviewed
- Funder
- This work was supported by a funding agreement between the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) and Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) in partnership with the suicide prevention group Rugby Unite for delivery of the MHFA training. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.
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