Objectives: Depression affects 23.3% of Thai and 15.2% of Vietnamese health science students, rates that exceed the global average of 4.4%. This study compared the causal models of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward individuals at risk of depression between these 2 groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 and included 422 students from Thailand and Vietnam, who were studying medicine, nursing, psychology, and physical therapy. Stratified random sampling was used to select 211 students from each country. Data collection was performed using a Likert scale, which showed total-item correlations ranging from 0.24 to 0.83 and Cronbach’s alpha values between 0.74 and 0.86. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: The causal models were consistent with the empirical data. The helping behavior of students toward peers at risk of depression was significantly influenced by their mental health literacy (effect size [ES], 0.91). This influence was also mediated indirectly by self-efficacy (ES, 0.18), positive attitudes (ES, 0.29), and social support (ES, 0.77). Collectively, these factors accounted for 83% of the variance in helping behavior. Social support had a more pronounced effect on mental health literacy among Vietnamese students than among their Thai counterparts (ES, 0.46 vs. 0.27, p<0.05). Conversely, positive attitudes had a stronger influence among Thai students than among Vietnamese students (ES, 0.17 vs. 0.01, p<0.05). Conclusions The causal models of helping behavior among Thai and Vietnamese health science students exhibited no significant differences. However, improving mental health literacy is crucial, as it significantly impacts helping behavior.

Objectives: Depression affects 23.3% of Thai and 15.2% of Vietnamese health science students, rates that exceed the global average of 4.4%. This study compared the causal models of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward individuals at risk of depression between these 2 groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 and included 422 students from Thailand and Vietnam, who were studying medicine, nursing, psychology, and physical therapy. Stratified random sampling was used to select 211 students from each country. Data collection was performed using a Likert scale, which showed total-item correlations ranging from 0.24 to 0.83 and Cronbach’s alpha values between 0.74 and 0.86. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: The causal models were consistent with the empirical data. The helping behavior of students toward peers at risk of depression was significantly influenced by their mental health literacy (effect size [ES], 0.91). This influence was also mediated indirectly by self-efficacy (ES, 0.18), positive attitudes (ES, 0.29), and social support (ES, 0.77). Collectively, these factors accounted for 83% of the variance in helping behavior. Social support had a more pronounced effect on mental health literacy among Vietnamese students than among their Thai counterparts (ES, 0.46 vs. 0.27, p<0.05). Conversely, positive attitudes had a stronger influence among Thai students than among Vietnamese students (ES, 0.17 vs. 0.01, p<0.05). Conclusions The causal models of helping behavior among Thai and Vietnamese health science students exhibited no significant differences. However, improving mental health literacy is crucial, as it significantly impacts helping behavior.

Objectives: Depression affects 23.3% of Thai and 15.2% of Vietnamese health science students, rates that exceed the global average of 4.4%. This study compared the causal models of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward individuals at risk of depression between these 2 groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 and included 422 students from Thailand and Vietnam, who were studying medicine, nursing, psychology, and physical therapy. Stratified random sampling was used to select 211 students from each country. Data collection was performed using a Likert scale, which showed total-item correlations ranging from 0.24 to 0.83 and Cronbach’s alpha values between 0.74 and 0.86. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: The causal models were consistent with the empirical data. The helping behavior of students toward peers at risk of depression was significantly influenced by their mental health literacy (effect size [ES], 0.91). This influence was also mediated indirectly by self-efficacy (ES, 0.18), positive attitudes (ES, 0.29), and social support (ES, 0.77). Collectively, these factors accounted for 83% of the variance in helping behavior. Social support had a more pronounced effect on mental health literacy among Vietnamese students than among their Thai counterparts (ES, 0.46 vs. 0.27, p<0.05). Conversely, positive attitudes had a stronger influence among Thai students than among Vietnamese students (ES, 0.17 vs. 0.01, p<0.05). Conclusions The causal models of helping behavior among Thai and Vietnamese health science students exhibited no significant differences. However, improving mental health literacy is crucial, as it significantly impacts helping behavior.

Objectives: This study developed a causal relationship model of herb use from observational data and analyzed the direct and indirect effects of herb use on health according to the model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 participants aged 26-59 years, selected through multistage random sampling. The instruments used for data collection included demographic information, herb use, health literacy (HL), perceived social support, societal values, and attitudes toward herb use. The conceptual model, hypothesized based on prior evidence, was tested using confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling. Path coefficients were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. Results: The final model utilized empirical data, which showed that perceived social support had the most significant impact on herb use. This was followed by HL, positive attitudes toward herbal remedies, and societal values, with coefficients of 0.31, 0.18, and 0.16, respectively. When analyzing variables that indirectly affected herb use, it was clear that positive attitudes, perceived social support, and societal values significantly influenced herb use through HL, with influence coefficients of 0.08, 0.16, and 0.04, respectively. Together, these variables accounted for 68% of the variance in herb use. Conclusions The findings from this study can be utilized to develop and implement strategies that guide the use of herbal products, ultimately aiming to improve human health.