[[alternative]]tudy on Self-perceived Health Status and Demand on Mental Health Learning Among the Junior High School Students

[[abstract]]The purpose of this study was to understand the status of health and demand regarding mental health among junior high school students. One thousand and seventy eight students were recruited from public junior high schools in Hsinchu City, and were studied by using cross-sectional research. The data were collected in the first semester of the 2001 academic year, and were analyzed by using Descriptive Analysis, T-test, One-way ANOVA and Pearson Correlation. Generally, the realization about health status junior high school students was acceptable. Among all health status realization of psycho-physical health problems was the lowest level and severe depression was the highest level. The variations of school, grade, sex, birth order, the success of studies, economic and social status of family had significant influence on health status. The demand level of junior high school students in the course in mental health was middle. In all courses, the demand level of “self-recognition and self-esteem” was the highest, the second was “treatment of crisis” and the third was “establishment of health leisure life”. The demand level of the course was depended on the school and the success of studies. The demand of the course was increased with the decreased of health status. According to these results, the major source of information regarding the contents of mental health among the junior high school students was television programs and heath education textbook. The major social referents that offered information were parents, friends and classmates. Finally, suggestions to authorities, schools, teachers and further studies have been drawn based on the results of the study.