Evaluation of a mental health promotion workbook for increasing knowledge and encouraging behavior changes.

Background: The need to develop resources that promote mental health was more vital for preventing anxiety and depression and maintaining mental healthcare services during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to develop a mental health promotion workbook and confirm its feasibility.

Methods: An online-based post-only assessment design trial of the workbook was conducted in December 2021. A total of 381 Japanese participants took part in the study. Data regarding how the participants perceived the message relevance of the workbook were assessed. In total, 54.9% of participants recognized the relevance of the workbook message.

Results: Female (adjusted OR odds ratio [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-2.59), participants with a higher disposable income (adjusted OR = 2.12, 95%CI = 1.35-3.34), and those who practiced mental health promotion behaviors (adjusted OR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.20-3.02) most perceived the workbook message to be relevant. Favorably evaluated workbook content included knowledge of stress (53.6%) and patterns of leisure activities (48.3%). Manga-style information was favorably assessed by 20-29-year-olds. In addition, three assessment patterns of favorably evaluated content emerged: positive evaluations of all content, knowledge of stress content, and content related to behavior changes.

Conclusion: The mental health promotion workbook developed in this study may contribute to increasing individuals' knowledge and interest in mental health following the COVID-19 period.