Mental health literacy in Polynesian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders

The high prevalence of mental health problems and underutilization of mental health treatment are more severe among the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations and remain misunderstood and understudied. Examining mental health literacy (MHL) - the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders - aids their recognition, management, or prevention - has been shown to identify barriers to seeking and receiving care. This study aimed to assess the level of MHL in NHPIs and identify associated demographic variables. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from 298 US NHPIs via an online questionnaire of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS). The overall mean MHLS score was 121 (SD = 17.3), with statistically significant higher scores in female participants, >31 years old, Tongan, more educated, and with higher income. This study demonstrated that overall MHL is comparable among NHPI compared to the current literature. However, NHPI men <= 30 years old and with lower income had lower MHL, which may be linked to the mental health disparities specific to this population. Current interventions should focus on increasing knowledge of risk factors, causes, self-treatments, and available professional help regarding mental disorders. Efforts to improve the MHL of NHPI should target men <= 30 years with lower income (<$50 000).

Automated summary

The high prevalence of mental health problems and underutilization of mental health treatment among NHPI populations is severe and understudied. This study assesses the level of mental health literacy (MHL) in NHPIs and finds that overall MHL is comparable to existing literature. However, NHPI men under 30 years old and with lower income have lower MHL, indicating the need for targeted interventions to improve their knowledge and access to mental health care.