OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to create an algorithm to measure depression-related mental health literacy. METHOD: Participants were those recruited for the 1998 and 2004 South Australian Health Omnibus Surveys. Two unprompted questions were selected from a mental health literacy questionnaire and responses were quantified through allocation of scores agreed by a focus group of mental health professionals. RESULTS: An application of the algorithm resulted in findings consistent with those of other research, providing face validity for the method developed. The application allowed for examination of overall levels of depression-related mental health literacy, with improvement found between 1998 and 2004. Similarly, differences in overall literacy according to demographics were also uncovered. CONCLUSIONS: Tracking mental health literacy within populations is important as it has been shown to be related to individual help-seeking as well as provision of support for those with a mental disorder. The method devised in this study allows for comparisons of literacy levels to be made across populations and time. It also offers increased capacity for statistical application.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to create an algorithm to measure depression-related mental health literacy. METHOD:Participants were those recruited for the 1998 and 2004 South Australian Health Omnibus Surveys. Two unprompted questions were selected from a mental health literacy questionnaire and responses were quantified through allocation of scores agreed by a focus group of mental health professionals. RESULTS: An application of the algorithm resulted in findings consistent with those of other research, providing face validity for the method developed. The application allowed for examination of overall levels of depression-related mental health literacy, with improvement found between 1998 and 2004. Similarly, differences in overall literacy according to demographics were also uncovered. CONCLUSIONS: Tracking mental health literacy within populations is important as it has been shown to be related to individual help-seeking as well as provision of support for those with a mental disorder. The method devised in this study allows for comparisons of literacy levels to be made across populations and time. It also offers increased capacity for statistical application.
Authors: Evan Atlantis; Robert D Goldney; Kerena A Eckert; Anne W Taylor; Patrick Phillips Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2011-05-18 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Marie Dorow; Margrit Löbner; Alexander Pabst; Janine Stein; Steffi G Riedel-Heller Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2018-05-17 Impact factor: 4.157