JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Many students in the rural areas of Türkiye often experience mental health challenges, particularly after the 2023 earthquake, which exacerbated trauma and increased the risk of suicidal ideation. The purpose of this study is to explore mental health literacy with Digital Visual Interventions (DVI) for rural Turkish students, using a mixed-methods design that combines quantitative survey data with a qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses.

Objective:

The DVI program was co-created by the students based on a case study story that included educational information from mental health professionals, aimed at exploring the impact of DVI on mental health awareness and knowledge among Turkish students. A total of 86 students were recruited through a convenience sampling method for the pre- and post-tests, after exposure to DVI, to engage and prompt students' responses.

Methods:

A total of 86 students were recruited through a convenience sampling method for the pre- and post-tests, after exposure to DVI, to engage and prompt students' responses.

Results:

The results indicated approximately 91.9% (pretest; n = 79) of students had not previously used the mental health facilities available at the university; 38.5% had engaged in conversations with counsellors but perhaps not through "facilities," 23.1% had consulted a psychologist online, and 23.1% had sought advice from friends. Post-test (n=60) results demonstrated significant improvement on intention to seek help after exposure to DVI. A complementary thematic analysis of open-ended responses showed a shift from generalized, uncertain answers before DVI exposure toward specific symptom recognition, trauma-informed reasoning about the case story, and convergent endorsement of professional help-seeking afterward.

Conclusions:

These findings underscore the importance of culturally appropriate co-created health information like DVI in improving mental health literacy among Turkish students.