Recommendation to add educational materials in schools
Study: 75.5% use digital media to obtain information about mental health
Technological progress and the development of digital media have greatly affected people’s lives, especially in transmitting information quickly, which has increased awareness and education in societies in all fields, including mental health, as modern media provides support, guidance and encouragement to individuals who are in need of psychological help.
From this aspect, a study was revealed entitled “The Role of Digital Media in Raising Awareness of Mental Health in Saudi Society… A Field Study,” prepared by researcher Taghreed Ahmed Al-Zahrani, specializing in media and marketing. The study aimed to explore and analyze the role of digital media in Saudi society and its connection to mental health. Highlighting the importance of digital media in Saudi society and using it to raise awareness of mental health and improve mental health care for the individual and society:
• The study sample
The study sample consisted of 200 individuals that were taken using a “cluster sample” method by publishing the questionnaire on the Internet and sending it to a group of people. They were then asked to send it to another group of individuals interested in the subject of mental health and dealing with digital media.
Males constituted 82.5% of the sample, compared to 35% of females. The sample was distributed according to age group as follows: the group between 18 and 25 years (40%) of the sample, followed by the group between 26 and 35 years (35.5%), then the group between 36 and 45 years (14.5%), and in fourth place was the group more From 45 years old (5.5%), and finally the group under 18 years old (4.5%).
In terms of educational level, those with a bachelor’s degree constituted 58% of the study sample, followed by those with a high school degree or less (20%), then those holding a diploma (17.5%), and finally those studying at the postgraduate level (4.5%).
With regard to the residential area, the Central Region category came in first place with a percentage of (48.5%), then the Western Region category came in second place (27.5%), followed by the Eastern and Northern Region categories in the same order in third place with a percentage of (5.8%), and in last place. The southern region category comes in at (7%).
• Results
The results of the study showed that the study sample participants were aware of mental health, its diseases, and the problems associated with it, as 85% of the study sample said that they had awareness of mental health, while 8% responded by saying “to some extent,” and 7% confirmed that they had no awareness of the issue.
According to the results, the study participants’ belief in the importance of increasing awareness about mental health and its importance in Saudi society was moderate, as 57.5% of the sample answered with the phrase “to some extent,” while 29.5% saw the importance of increasing awareness, in contrast, 13% counted. They don’t think it matters.
The results revealed that 75.5% of the study sample used digital media to obtain information about mental health, while the percentage of those who said they did not use it in this regard was 24.5%.
It also became clear that the study sample relied on social media sites to obtain information about mental health at a rate of 64%, followed by Internet sites at a rate of 52.5%, then mental health applications and services at a rate of 27%, and finally other means at a rate of 7.5%.
Regarding the extent to which the study sample participants benefit from the content provided about mental health in digital media, 51.5% explained that they do not benefit, and 10% of the sample said “I don’t know,” while 38.5% confirmed that they benefit from the content.
Regarding the applications for mental health services used by the study sample, the “Labih” application came in first place with a percentage of (100%), then “other applications” (27.3%), and in third place was “Mirrors” with a percentage of (18.2%), and the Wojoud application (13.6%) ), and finally a “comfortable” application (9.1%).
As for the factors that influence the study sample’s choice of applying mental health services, they are topped by “the presence of positive user ratings and opinions” (95.50%), then “ease of using the application” (91%), followed by “credibility and reliability of the application and information” (77.30%). In fourth place is “availability of support services and technical assistance” (50%), and finally “the cost of subscribing or using the application” (59.10%).
The results of the study showed that participants who used mental health services applications benefited greatly from these applications in improving their mental health, as the answer “yes” came in first place at a rate of (72.7%), while the percentage of those who did not benefit from the applications and their answer was “no” (27.3%).
• Study recommendations
The study included a series of recommendations, including the need to raise awareness of the importance of mental health through increasing campaigns to raise community awareness. And work on the availability of official platforms and their spread in a larger and better way and at reasonable prices. In addition to the necessity of having a psychiatrist for every government institution or private sector, to sense what the workforce needs. As well as adding educational materials in schools to explain the importance of mental health.
The study also directed increased oversight of what is published regarding mental health. Because there are many unqualified people who spread inaccurate information about psychological disorders in dramas and films. And intensifying advertising and psychological awareness by taking advantage of World Mental Health Day.
The study also called for increasing mental health services in all regions, especially developing ones, and intensifying awareness in digital media and all social media platforms through influencers and digital channels, in order to increase family awareness in Saudi society, especially with regard to teenagers.
The study recommended conducting studies based on a qualitative approach using a standardized interview tool with a group of communicators in mental health applications, as well as comparative analytical studies between media content in social media and mental health applications about mental health, as well as a quasi-experimental study to measure the impact of using health applications. Psychological improvement in improving the mental health of individuals.
Therefore, it can be said that digital media has a positive impact in increasing awareness of mental health in Saudi society.
2024-02-19 19:17:38
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