The Mental Health Literacy of Rural Adolescents: Emo Subculture and SMS Texting

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to explore the mental health literacy of adolescents living in a rural area in Australia through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, with a view to identifying areas for further research and making recommendations for improved education programs around mental health.

Method: Nine Year 10 students (two boys and seven girls) from a rural secondary school in South Australia read two vignettes, one portraying depression and the other schizophrenia. Semi-structured individual interviews that focussed on the vignettes were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed for thematic content.

Results: The data yielded a number of main themes, many of which have been previously identified in the literature. Two new findings also emerged. These were the role of Emo subculture and dealing with distress, and the value of confiding in another person through short message service (SMS) texting.

Conclusions: The impact of Emo subculture and SMS texting on mental health literacy requires further exploration. It is suggested that these two findings are not confined to rural youth, but may have national and international relevance.