Mental Health Literacy and Attitudes Towards Seeking Psychological Support Among Parents of Children With Special Needs and Mental Illness Diagnosis

Background The present study aimed to examine the relationship between the mental health literacy of parents of children with special needs and mental illness and their attitudes towards seeking psychological support. Materials and Methods The study was conducted in a cross-sectional and correlational design. The sample consisted of 196 parents, 98 of whom had children with special needs and 98 of whom had a mental health diagnosis. The data were collected using a descriptive questionnaire for parents and children, the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS), and Attitude Scale Towards Receiving Professional Psychological Support-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF) in face-to-face interviews. In the evaluation of the data, the SPSS 22.0 statistical program was employed. Results General mental health literacy levels were moderate in both groups, with a higher difference in the resource-oriented approach among parents of children with special needs, but no significant relationship was found with the ATSPPH-SF or its sub-dimensions. Conclusion Mental Health Literacy levels did not differ significantly between parent groups, but attitudes affecting psychological support-seeking behaviors depend on more complex psychosocial factors. It can be speculated that individuals’ knowledge and beliefs about mental health influence their propensity to seek psychological support, but knowledge of access to resources is not a determining factor in this process. From a clinical perspective, this highlights the importance of not only providing information but also stigma-reducing and motivation-enhancing interventions aimed at changing attitudes. Knowledge of the MHLS alone may be insufficient to motivate help-seeking behaviors. Providing awareness training aimed at increasing the MHLS levels to help parents in both groups protect both their mental health and the mental health of their child will not only be effective in coping with stressful situations but will also support their attitudes toward seeking psychological first aid.