Development and validation of the Test of Mental Health Literacy for Supporting Children

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to develop the Test of Mental Health Literacy for Supporting Children (T-MHLSC), a novel criterion-referenced tool assessing adults’ knowledge and beliefs about the mental health of children aged 5–12, and to examine its psychometric properties. Methods The T-MHLSC was iteratively developed through three phases: initial validation with child mental health clinicians (n = 42), cognitive testing with potential users (2 parents, 3 educators, and 7 health professionals), and a quantitative pilot with parents (n = 1,176). In Phase 4, construct validity and test–retest reliability were evaluated in a diverse sample of adults living or working with children aged 5–12, inc..