My Mental Health Literacy Reflection

Mental health literacy develops over time through experience, learning and ongoing conversations.

This reflection tool is designed to encourage reflection and support ongoing learning rather than assess expertise or provide a formal measure of competence.

The tool explores four important areas of mental health literacy:

Knowledge: recognising signs, understanding contributing factors and identifying when concerns may require support
Attitudes: openness, comfort and responsiveness towards mental health conversations
Skills: practical communication and emotional support skills
Support Pathways: awareness of professional help, referral options and crisis supports

There are no right or wrong answers. The aim is not to test expertise, but to encourage reflection and support ongoing learning. Results are intended to support insight and self-reflection and may help identify existing strengths and areas for further growth. They should not be interpreted as a formal assessment, diagnosis or validated measure of mental health literacy.

Some questions reference topics such as emotional distress, self-harm, suicide risk and mental health crisis situations. If you feel uncomfortable at any stage, you are encouraged to pause and return when ready.

For each statement, select the response that feels most accurate for you.

Mental Health Literacy Family

1. When a young person becomes emotional or upset, how likely are you to encourage them to talk about how they feel?

I find it difficult to encourage emotional conversations.

I would encourage them to keep talking in a supportive and non-judgemental way.

I generally avoid continuing the conversation if possible.

I would encourage the conversation, although I may still feel slightly unsure at times.

I try to support the conversation, although I may feel uncomfortable or uncertain.

2. How confident are you recognising when a young person’s emotional distress may be more than typical stress or mood changes?

I have limited confidence recognising when emotional distress may require support.

I can sometimes recognise concerns, although I still feel uncertain at times.

I feel very confident recognising when concerns may require further support.

I would struggle to tell the difference between typical behaviour and possible warning signs.

I can usually recognise when something may be more serious than normal stress or mood changes.

3. How prepared would you feel helping a young person access professional mental health support if needed?

I would feel reasonably confident helping them navigate support options.

I would not know where to begin.

I would know a few possible ways to access support, although I would still feel uncertain.

I would feel very prepared supporting a young person to access appropriate help.

I would feel unsure about how to help them access support.

4. If a young person expressed emotional distress to you, how likely would you be to take their concerns seriously and respond supportively?

I would assume the concern will pass on its own.

I would usually take concerns seriously, although I may feel unsure how best to respond.

I would respond thoughtfully and supportively, regardless of how severe the concern appeared.

I would rarely view emotional concerns as significant.

I would sometimes feel uncertain about whether the concern was serious.

5. How aware are you of the mental health support services available to young people and families?

I know a reasonable amount about available services and what steps to take.

I have heard of some services, but I would be unsure how to access them.

I feel highly informed about available support options and know how to access them.

I know very little about available mental health support options.

I have some awareness of available supports, although there are still gaps in my understanding.

6. How confident are you recognising common signs of anxiety in young people?

I could recognise some common signs, although I would often feel unsure.

I would struggle to recognise signs of anxiety.

I can usually recognise signs of anxiety reasonably well.

I know anxiety can present in different ways, but I would rarely feel confident identifying it.

I feel very confident identifying common signs of anxiety.

7. If you noticed a young person seemed withdrawn, overwhelmed or unusually quiet for several weeks, how likely are you to start a supportive conversation with them?

I may start a conversation, although I would probably hesitate.

I would feel uncomfortable and unsure how to begin.

I would likely start a conversation in most situations.

I would usually avoid starting the conversation.

I would feel very comfortable initiating a supportive conversation.

8. Which statement best reflects your understanding of mental health challenges in young people?

I think mental health concerns in young people are often overstated.

I understand that mental health concerns are relatively common among young people.

I believe mental health difficulties affect only a relatively small number of young people.

I understand that mental health challenges can affect any young person regardless of background or circumstances.

I am somewhat unsure how common mental health challenges are among young people.

9. How aware are you that self-harm or suicide risk can sometimes present subtly or be difficult to recognise?

I feel reasonably confident recognising subtle warning signs.

I have limited awareness of how risk may present.

I feel confident identifying the warning signs even though they may present subtly.

I know there can be warning signs, but I would struggle to recognise them.

I feel somewhat aware, although not fully confident recognising subtle signs.

10. If a young person became visibly distressed while speaking with you, how well do you think you could remain calm and supportive in the moment?

I could usually remain calm and supportive in these situations.

I would likely feel overwhelmed and unsure how to respond.

I feel highly confident remaining calm and supportive.

I could manage in some situations, although I would not feel consistently confident.

I would find it difficult to remain calm and supportive.

11. When conversations about mental health arise, how do you usually respond?

I generally engage in the conversation, although I may still feel slightly uncomfortable at times.

I believe mental health is generally best kept private.

I actively encourage open and supportive discussions about wellbeing.

I sometimes engage, although I often feel unsure what to say.

I usually avoid these discussions where possible.

12. How confident are you recognising when a young person may benefit from professional mental health support?

I sometimes recognise the signs, although I still feel uncertain.

I would struggle to recognise when outside support may be needed.

I feel highly confident recognising when professional support may be needed.

I often feel unsure whether professional support would be appropriate.

I can usually recognise when additional support may be beneficial.

13. How would you describe your ability to listen supportively and without judgement when a young person shares emotional concerns?

I try to listen well, although I may sometimes become uncomfortable or uncertain.

I feel highly confident listening supportively and without judgement.

I often feel unsure how to respond in supportive ways.

I would find this very difficult.

I feel reasonably confident listening supportively in most situations.

14. If you noticed changes in a young person’s behaviour, mood or social interactions, how likely would you be to gently check-in with them?

I would almost always check-in and start a supportive conversation.

I would probably avoid raising the issue.

I may check-in, although I might hesitate.

I would be very unlikely to check-in with them.

I would likely check-in in most situations.

15. How well can you distinguish between typical child or adolescent behaviour and possible warning signs of emotional distress?

I often find it difficult to distinguish between typical behaviour and possible warning signs.

I feel very confident recognising possible warning signs.

I can sometimes recognise concerning changes, although not consistently.

I feel unsure most of the time.

I feel reasonably confident identifying concerning changes in behaviour or mood.

16. If a young person disclosed self-harm or suicidal thoughts to you, how prepared would you feel to respond calmly and safely?

I would likely panic or avoid responding.

I have some understanding, although I would still lack confidence.

I would feel reasonably confident responding safely and supportively.

I would feel unsure how to respond safely.

I would know how to respond appropriately and seek additional support if needed.

17. How confident are you finding trustworthy and evidence-informed information about youth mental health online?

I know where to find reliable and evidence-informed information.

I know a few places to look, although I am often unsure what information to trust.

I feel reasonably confident identifying credible resources.

I rarely know where to look for trustworthy information.

I can sometimes identify reliable information, although I still feel uncertain.

18. How aware are you of the ways experiences such as bullying, trauma, social isolation or substance use can affect a young person’s mental health and behaviour?

I am aware these experiences can affect wellbeing, although my understanding is limited.

I feel reasonably informed about how these experiences can affect wellbeing.

I know very little about how these experiences can affect mental health.

I understand these impacts in considerable depth.

I have a general understanding of how these experiences may affect wellbeing, although there are still gaps in my knowledge.

19. How comfortable are you encouraging a reluctant young person to seek support from a mental health professional?

I feel reasonably confident discussing help-seeking and support options.

I would generally avoid becoming involved.

I would encourage support, although I would still feel somewhat uncertain about what to do.

I feel very confident guiding young people towards appropriate support.

I would want to help, although I would feel unsure what to suggest.

20. If a young person experienced a mental health crisis, how prepared would you feel to respond appropriately and seek further support?

I would probably feel overwhelmed and unsure how to respond.

I would feel reasonably prepared to respond appropriately in most situations.

I know some basic steps, although I would still need guidance and support.

I would feel very prepared and know what steps to take.

I would have limited understanding of how to respond appropriately.

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