MENTALCARE: Community-based adolescent empowerment through mental health education, early screening, and support in makassar city

Abstract

Adolescent mental health problems are increasingly recognized as a major public health concern, particularly because limited mental health literacy, stigma, and inadequate help-seeking behavior may delay early identification and appropriate care. The MENTALCARE program aimed to improve adolescent mental health literacy, strengthen early recognition of psychological problems, promote peer support, and facilitate appropriate referral pathways in Makassar City, Indonesia. The program used a community-based participatory approach with a one-group pretest–posttest evaluation design involving 30 adolescents. Activities included interactive mental health education, discussion, early screening, peer-support strengthening, initial counseling, and referral when further professional assessment was indicated. Educational materials included presentations, modules, infographics, videos, and digital resources, while evaluation focused on changes in mental health literacy and help-seeking knowledge. The mean mental health literacy score increased from 55.5 at pretest to 83.4 at posttest, representing an average improvement of 27.9 points.  Participants also gained greater understanding of anxiety and depression symptoms, healthy coping strategies, stigma reduction, peer communication, and available referral pathways. The program benefited community partners by strengthening their capacity to identify adolescents requiring additional support and connect them with appropriate health services. In conclusion, MENTALCARE demonstrates the feasibility of integrating education, early screening, peer support, and referral within a community-based adolescent mental health program. Continued implementation, standardized evaluation, and longer-term follow-up are recommended to strengthen sustainability and assess lasting behavioral and psychological outcomes