Mental Health Literacy and its correlates among Zimbabwean Health Sciences students: a cross-sectional study and exploratory psychometric evaluation

The study examined mental health literacy (MHL) levels among 601 health sciences students in Zimbabwe using a cross-sectional design. The mean MHL score was 119.5 points. The total scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85), although domain-level reliability was lower (0.52-0.66). Students who completed psychology or psychiatry courses, those in later years of study, and those with higher digital literacy had higher MHL scores. Lower scores were associated with drug or substance use and personal history of mental disorders. Results indicate that total MHL score is more suitable for analysis than individual subscales. The authors recommend further evaluation of mental health education at universities and strengthening of digital literacy.