Table 6 Reformatted Westbrook Mental Health Knowledge Test for Comparison
Pre-test | Post-test | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Correct | Not sure | Correct | Not sure | |
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
Depression is the same thing as being sad. (F) | 11 (78.6) | 0 (0.0) | 10 (71.4) | 1 (7.1) |
Mental illness is like other diseases because a person who has it has symptoms that a doctor can diagnose. (T) | 6 (42.9) | 4 (28.6) | 9 (64.3) | 2 (14.3) |
Individuals who have a family member with a mental illness are more likely to have a mental illness themselves. (T) | 8 (57.1) | 3 (21.4) | 9 (64.3) | 2 (14.3) |
The brain of a healthy person works the same as that of a mentally ill person. (F) | 8 (57.1) | 5 (35.7) | 11 (78.6) | 2 (14.3) |
A person who does not get treatment for depression may feel better after a while, but there may be some long-lasting effects. (T) | 10 (71.4) | 2 (14.3) | 9 (64.3) | 4 (28.6) |
How bad a person’s mental illness is depends on many things, including his or her genes and family environment. (T) | 9 (64.3) | 4 (28.6) | 9 (64.3) | 5 (35.7) |
A person uses his or her brain to learn, but the heart controls a person’s feelings. (F) | 7 (50.0) | 5 (35.7) | 9 (64.3) | 5 (35.7) |
Most people with mental illness can do normal things like go to school or work at a job. (T) | 12 (85.7) | 1 (7.1) | 12 (85.7) | 2 (14.3) |
Treating mental illness can change the way the brain works. (T) | 8 (57.1) | 5 (35.7) | 8 (57.1) | 5 (35.7) |
People with depression don’t need to see a doctor—they just get over it. (F) | 14 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 12 (85.7) | 1 (7.1) |
Depression is a disease. (T) | 2 (14.3) | 2 (14.3) | 1 (7.1) | 2 (14.3) |
There are no treatments that work for most mental illnesses. (F) | 7 (50.0) | 3 (21.4) | 8 (57.1) | 5 (35.7) |
Students and other people who have a mental illness can’t learn. (F) | 12 (85.7) | 2 (14.3) | 13 (92.9) | 1 (7.1) |
Total knowledge score | Mean (SD) | Median | Mean (SD) | Median |
8.14 ± 2.07 | 8.0 | 8.57 ± 2.71 | 9.5 | |