Effectiveness of an Integrated Activity-Based and Tele-Monitoring Intervention on Mental Health Literacy and Resilience among Urban Older Adults in Thailand: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Mental health problems among older adults are a growing public health concern, particularly in urban areas. Mental health literacy can enhance problem recognition, self-help, and help-seeking. This study examined changes in mental health literacy and resilience among urban older adults following an integrated activity-based and tele-monitoring intervention. Methods: A one-group quasi-experimental repeated-measures study was conducted among 30 adults aged 60 years and older in urban communities in Thailand. Participants received a structured 3-hour activity-based mental health literacy intervention followed by 1 month of tele-monitoring support. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. Changes in mental health literacy and resilience scores were analyzed using the Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction. Results: Mental health literacy scores increased significantly after the intervention and remained significantly higher at follow-up than at baseline (χ² = 29.29, p < 0.001, Kendall’s W = 0.49). Resilience scores also improved significantly across the three measurement points (χ² = 38.39, p < 0.001, Kendall’s W = 0.64). Although resilience scores declined at follow-up compared with immediately after the intervention, they remained higher than baseline. Conclusion: The intervention was associated with improvements in mental health literacy and resilience among urban older adults in Thailand. This approach shows potential as a practical community-based model for mental health promotion in ageing populations; however, controlled studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed. Keywords: Mental health literacy, Ageing, Older adults, Resilience, Tele-monitoring, Thailand