Quantifying and predicting depression literacy of undergraduates: a cross sectional study in Sri Lanka

Abstract

BackgroundThe high rates of depression and low rates of related help-seeking among undergraduates are matters for concern. In response to the need to examine their knowledge about depression and its management, and the dearth of such research from non-western developing countries, this study examined the depression literacy of undergraduates in Sri Lanka.MethodsA questionnaire was administered among 4671 undergraduates to examine their depression literacy relating to problem-recognition, measured using a vignette of a depressed undergraduate, and their treatment beliefs measured by assessing their perceptions about the helpfulness of various options of help for the presented problem. Responses for the latter aspect were quantified using a scale comprising the options of help endorsed by Sri Lankan mental health professionals. Regression analysis models were used to identify the correlates of these aspects of depression literacy.ResultsFemales, medical undergraduates and those in higher years of study (compared to first-years) were more likely to recognise the problem as depression. The undergraduates obtained a mean percentage score of 76 % on the constructed Depression Treatment Beliefs Scale. Scores on this scale were higher among females, medical undergraduates, those who got help for the problem after trying to deal with it alone and those who recognised the problem as depression, as well as those who used other mental health-related labels for this purpose. Scores were lower among undergraduates in years 2–4 (compared to first-years), those with family or friends with the problem and those with higher stigma on a Social Distance Scale. However, the effect sizes of these relationships were small.ConclusionsAs factors such as gender, discipline, year of study, exposure to depression and stigma are associated with differences in the depression literacy of these undergraduates, concerning their ability to recognise the problem and their related treatment beliefs, these must be considered when designing related educational initiatives. Recognising the problem as depression or the use of other mental health-related labels is associated with better treatment beliefs as per expert consensus, indicating that such labelling could have value for appropriate help-seeking.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0658-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Depression literacy in urban and suburban residents of Tehran, the Capital of Iran; Recognition, help seeking and stigmatizing attitude and the predicting factors

“…Logistic regression in this study expressed that female gender, age increasing, and higher education significantly increased the likelihood of a correct depression diagnosis, which was similar to that found by Amarasuriya in Sri Lanka,[19] Reavley[12] in Australia and Furnham[20] in the United Kingdom. However, the finding on gender contradicted with results of Sayarifard[10] and Yeap[21] studies in Iran and Malaysia, respectively.…”

“…The present study showed that the ability to recognize the disorder in Tehran city (53%) and the suburb (30%) was both low, which was consistent with the findings of the Sayarifard's study among Tehran University of Medical Sciences students, where less than 40% of students were able to correctly diagnose depression. [10] This finding was very low in comparison with the 70% achieved in a number of countries, including the Reavley's study[12] in Australian students and the Marie's study[14] in the New Zealand community, but more similar to the results of the Jorm,[17] Olsson,[18] and Amarasuriya[19] studies in Japan, America, and Sri Lanka.…”

Religious Coping, Religiosity, Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students in a Multi-Religious Setting

“…Mental illness among medical students has often been swept under the carpet and under-recognized [34], though the rates of these mental illness among this vulnerable population are by no means trivial. A recent meta-analysis of depression among medical students concluded that the global prevalence was around 28% [1].…”

Recognition of mental disorders: findings from a cross-sectional study among medical students in Singapore

“…As expected, fourth-year and fifth-year medical students were significantly more likely to correctly recognise the disorder described in the vignette compared with students in their first year of medicine, a finding which concurs with previous research. 13 Medical school curricula for first-year students only include very limited and preliminary information relating to psychiatry, where the majority of psychiatric teaching clerkship and placements occurs in the latter years of the course. Therefore, it is not surprising that the knowledge and ability to correctly recognise signs and symptoms of various disorders among first-year students is poorer than students in their final years of medicine.…”

“…While very few studies have explored mental health literacy solely among medical students, studies have investigated this concept among university and college students. Findings have revealed that in comparison medical students could better recognise mental illnesses 13 or had better mental health literacy than students studying within other disciplines. 14 15 Despite this, medical students report feeling underprepared to manage mental health problems.…”