Mental Health Literacy: an Impediment to the Optimum Treatment of Major Depression in the Community

Mental health literacy refers to the knowledge & beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management & prevention. This study examined the mental health literacy & experience of depression in a random & representative community population. Those with major depression had significantly more personal experience of depression than those with other depressions & those who were not depressed, but there were few significant differences between the groups in terms of mental health literacy. Of those with major depression, 40% considered anti-depressants helpful but 40% found them harmful. There is considerable impediment to the recognition & management of major depression & a need for further community education programs. (26 refs.)