Mental health literacy of those with major depression and suicidal ideation: An impediment to help seeking
Date
2002
Authors
Goldney, R.
Fisher, L.
Wilson, D.
Cheok, F.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 2002; 32(4):394-403
Statement of Responsibility
Robert D. Goldney, Laura J. Fisher, David H. Wilson, and Frida Cheok
Conference Name
Abstract
Mental health literacy is the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that aid their recognition, management, or prevention, and is an important determinant of help seeking. This has relevance in suicide prevention, particularly for those with major depression, the clinical condition most frequently associated with suicidal behavior. In this study of a random and representative community sample, a vignette depicting classical features of major depression was presented to subjects along with questions related to mental health literacy. The responses of those with major depression, as delineated by the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders instrument, both with and without suicidal ideation, were compared to those of a third group of respondents. The results demonstrated that despite increased professional contact by those with major depression and suicidal ideation, there were few differences among the three groups on either open-ended or direct questions related to mental health literacy. This indicates that increased professional contact in itself was not related to increased mental health literacy, and suggests that more specific psychoeducational programs are required.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Copyright © 2002 The American Association of Suicidology