Background: Mental health issues among late adolescents in Malaysia have emerged as a growing public health concern, particularly during the transitional pre-university period. Despite increasing awareness of adolescent mental health, mental health literacy (MHL) in this age group remains poorly understood. Many students are unable to recognize symptoms, access reliable information, or navigate appropriate help-seeking pathways. There is a clear need for context-specific research that considers not only individual knowledge but also cultural attitudes, behavioral norms, and environmental influences shaping MHL. This study draws on Social Cognitive Theory to address these gaps and contribute to evidence-informed mental health promotion among youth in low- and middle-income settings. The objectives of this study are to: (I) assess the level of MHL among pre-university students aged 18–19 years in Negeri Sembilan; (III) identify key personal, behavioral, and environmental determinants of MHL; (III) explore students’ lived experiences and help-seeking perceptions; and (IV) provide locally relevant insights to inform institution- and community-based interventions.
Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design will be employed. The quantitative arm will consist of a cross-sectional survey involving 350 students using validated tools measuring MHL, self-efficacy, health literacy, social support, and cultural beliefs. In parallel, 10–15 students will be purposively selected for in-depth interviews to examine contextual influences on mental health understanding and help-seeking behavior. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS), while qualitative data will undergo thematic analysis (using NVivo software). Ethical approval is currently being sought from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Human Research Ethics Committee.
Results: Findings will offer a comprehensive understanding of the multifactorial influences on adolescent MHL, supporting the development of culturally sensitive, equity-oriented interventions in line with global mental health priorities.
Conclusions: This study will explain why awareness does not always translate to help-seeking among Malaysian pre-university students. By integrating quantitative metrics with pre-university students’ perspectives, the findings will provide the necessary local evidence to shift from generic awareness campaigns to targeted and culturally sensitive mental health interventions.
