@article{Ahorsu:7015,
      recid = {7015},
      author = {Ahorsu, Daniel Kwasi and Sánchez Vidaña, Dalinda Isabel  and Lipardo, Donald and Shah, Parth Bharat and Cruz  González, Pablo and Shende, Sachin and Gurung, Shilpa and  Venkatesan, Harun and Duongthipthewa, Anchalee and Ansari,  Talha Qasim and Schoeb, Veronika},
      title = {Effect of a peer‐led intervention combining mental health  promotion with coping‐strategy‐based workshops on mental  health awareness, help‐seeking behavior, and wellbeing  among university students in Hong Kong},
      journal = {International journal of mental health systems},
      address = {2021-01},
      number = {ARTICLE},
      pages = {10 p.},
      abstract = {Background

The psychological well-being of university  students is an important factor in successfully coping with  the demands of academic life. This study aimed to assess  the impact of a peer-led intervention of mental health  promotion combined with coping-strategy-based group  workshops on mental health awareness and help-seeking  behavior among university students in Hong Kong.
Method

A  mixed-method concurrent design was used for this study.  Quantitative data, based on one-group pretest-posttest  design, were collected using Mental Health Knowledge  Schedule Questionnaire to assess mental health awareness,  and Attitude Towards Seeking Professional Help  Questionnaire-Short Form to examine help-seeking behavior  of university students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic  University. Qualitative data were collected from written  post-activity reflections and focus group discussions which  were thematically analyzed.
Results

A total of 62  university students (mean age: 23.2 ± 5.1 years) were  included in this study. Mental health awareness was  significantly improved (p = 0.015, 95% Confidence Interval  of − 2.670, − 0.297) after program implementation.  Help-seeking behavior mean score increased from pretest to  posttest, however, no significant difference was observed  (p = 0.188, 95% CI = − 1.775, 0.355). Qualitative analysis  revealed that the program helped participants learn about  coping strategies to help themselves and others with mental  health challenges.
Conclusions

The peer-led intervention  provided a positive impact through increased mental health  awareness and knowledge of coping strategies on self-help  and helping others among university students. Further study  could focus on the impact of the program when applied  regularly throughout the entire academic year.},
      url = {http://arodes.hes-so.ch/record/7015},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00432-0},
}