Estonian scientists have participated in a study that has shown that mental health literacy is under-estimated in terms of ensuring everyday well-being, writes ERR News.
The comprehensive review, which also involved Hedvig Sultson, a researcher at the Institute for Health Development, examined 40 literature reviews published between 2000 and 2024 to assess how mental health literacy is defined and measured. The findings were published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.
The researchers found that mental health literacy is largely focused on understanding mental health disorders, reducing stigma, and seeking help. Much less attention is paid to mental well-being in everyday life and household factors. Sultson said that mental health literacy should help identify what contributes to well-being, and these factors include safe relationships, a sense of belonging, sleep, physical activity, meaningful activities and understanding when to seek help. The researcher pointed out that if mental health literacy is based mainly on recognizing disorders, prevention is neglected, but
sufficient attention also needs to be paid to skills and environments that support mental well-being.
A survey conducted in 2024 found that 23% of men and 27% of women in Estonia feel more stressed than usual, and 19% of men and 24% of women have symptoms of depression. The figures are better than in 2022, but still higher than at the beginning of the previous decade.
In a separate study published in the journal BMC Pediatrics, researchers looked at survey data from 3,608 European adolescents, with an average age of 13, and looked at the relationship between digital media use, body satisfaction, and family environment. The more time teens spent in digital environments, the greater their body dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, a supportive family environment mitigated the negative effects.
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