TY  - EJOU
AU  - Wang, Fenghua 
AU  - Gao, Jianguo 
AU  - Yao, Zhi-Ying 
AU  - Fung, Kenneth Po-Lun 
AU  - Jia, Cun-Xian 
AU  - Cheng, Sheng-Li 
AU  - Wong, Josephine Pui-Hing 

TI  - Reducing Stigma and Promoting Empowerment: A Pre-Post Evaluation of ACE-LYNX Intervention on the Mental Health Literacy of University Providers
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 2025
VL  - 27
IS  - 10
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  -  <b>Background:</b> Limited mental health literacy (MHL) among university service providers is a significant obstacle to effective psychological support. Developing and systematically assessing evidence-based interventions is an urgent priority, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Acceptance & Commitment to Empowerment: Linking Youths AND ‘Xin’ (Hearts) (ACE-LYNX) intervention in reducing stigma, improving psychological well-being, and enhancing the MHL and empowerment practices of university mental health providers in China. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 124 trained providers participated in this longitudinal study. Quantitative data were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and three-month follow-up using the validated scale (CAMI, DASS-21) and weekly activity logs recording empowerment practices. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) and qualitative content analysis were used for data analysis. <b>Results:</b> Quantitative analysis showed a significant reduction in stigma immediately postintervention, particularly in the Social Restriction subscale (β = 1.35, <i>p</i> < 0.001), though this effect diminished by the 3-month follow-up (β = 1.80, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Notably, a lasting reduction in the providers’ stress levels was maintained. Activity logs showed the highest level of engagement at the individual level (51.4%), followed by group level (32.0%), organizational level (10.5%), and community level (6.1%). Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: Skill-based empowerment enhances professional efficacy, embedded interventions expand service boundaries, and organizational empowerment fosters sustainability. <b>Conclusions:</b> This dual-focus ACE-LYNX intervention effectively improved MHL and both attitudinal and functional competencies among providers. It provides a scalable framework for fostering sustainable and inclusive campus mental health ecosystems, with significant implication for enhance psychological services in resource-constrained educational settings.
KW  - Mental health literacy (MHL); reduce stigma; university service providers; empowerment

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2025.069458