A systematic review on mental health literacy among working women in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Baharuddin, Noor Najwa, Hussin, Ruhaya, Alias, Alizi
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: BF Psychology; HQ1101 Women. Feminism; BP2035 Life skills. Coping skills. Everyday living skills; HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/81858/13/81858%20A%20Systematic%20Review%20on%20Mental%20Health%20Literacy.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/81858/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Mental health literacy (MHL) is defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which influence individual’s recognition, management, and prevention. Over the years, numerous MHL studies in the western countries such as Australia and Canada have been well-documented. However, research on MHL from the Eastern countries mainly Malaysia is still embryonic despite the rising numbers of people affected mainly among women population. In fact, mental health has been an issue of great concern specifically among working women as it poses adverse psychological effects which deteriorates their social life and overall wellbeing. Therefore the aims of this review are twofold; 1) to review existing evidence on the knowledge and attitudes of working women in Malaysia towards mental health and/or mental disorders; 2) to discuss MHL findings in Asia countries and specifically Malaysia. Methods: Three databases including PubMed, PsycInfo and the Cochrane will be searched against a comprehensive list of related search terms (E.g. mental health, mental health literacy, helpseeking, working women etc.). Searches will be run individually in each database to reflect each unique set of relevant subject heading. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed and refined by the research team. Two reviewers will participate in each search stage including abstract/title and full text screening, data extraction and appraisal, to ensure reliability. This systematic review will potentially contribute significantly to the area of MHL in Malaysia and within the Asia region at large. It will also serve as a guidepost for future research mainly in developing interventions that may help to improve Malaysians’ MHL.