Changes in Depression Awareness and Attitudes in Australia: The Impact of Beyondblue: The National Depression Initiative
- 1 January 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 40 (1), 42-46
- https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01739.x
Abstract
Objective: To assess changes in depression awareness and attitudes in Australia and the effect that beyondblue: the national depression initiative has had on these. Method: Data from national surveys of mental health literacy in 1995 and 2003–2004 were analysed to see if states and territories that funded beyondblue (the high-exposure states) had greater changes than those that did not (the low-exposure states). In both surveys, participants were shown a depression vignette and asked whether they themselves or family or friends had ever had a similar problem, whether they thought the person would be discriminated against, and questions about the likelihood of long-term positive and negative outcomes for the person. Participants were also assessed for symptoms of psychological distress in the past month. Results: There was an increase in the percentage of people who said that they or their family or friends had a problem like the person in the vignette. This increase was greater in the high-exposure states. However, therewas no change in reports of current psychological distress, suggesting that there is greater depression awareness or openness rather than a real increase in symptoms. People in the high-exposure states also showed an increase in the belief that discrimination would occur. There was little change in beliefs about longterm outcomes, apart from people in high-exposure states believing that a depressed person would be more understanding of other people's feelings. Conclusions: The data are consistent with beyondblue having had an effect on awareness of depression and of discrimination against depressed people.Keywords
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