Depression literacy in Alberta: findings from a general population sample.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the public's knowledge about depression, attitudes toward treatments for depression, perceived causal factors for depression, and reported prognoses of depression, overall and by sex.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey in Alberta between February and June 2006. We used a random phone number selection procedure to identify a sample of adults in the community (n = 3047). Participants were presented with a vignette describing an individual with depression and then asked questions to assess recognition of depression, attitudes toward mental health treatments, possible causal factors for depression, and prognosis of depression.

RESULTS

The response rate was 75.2 %. Among the final participants, 75.6% could correctly recognize depression described in a case vignette. General practitioners or family doctors were considered as being the best help for depression. Of the participants, 35% were in complete agreement with health professionals about appropriate interventions for depression, 28% believed in dealing with depression alone, and 43% thought that "weakness of character" was a likely cause of depression. Men had poorer mental health literacy than women and were more likely to endorse the use of alcohol to cope.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health promotion and education efforts are needed to improve the general public's mental health literacy and to clarify misunderstanding about depression. Men need to be a particular target of these efforts.