Tisha L. Deen|Ana J. Bridges
Depression literacy: rates and relation to perceived need and mental health service utilization in a rural American sample
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System|University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
introduction mental health literacy assists patients recognize manage prevent emotional disorders depressiondepression literacy specific type varies among populations however paucity research depression literacy rural americansthe purposes study evaluate depression literacy rural american sample examine relationship depression literacy perceived need utilization different types services emotional problemsmethods participants recruited outside grocery stores rural towns consenting contacted providing contact informationthey contacted via telephone complete survey 15 min durationdepression literacy measured assessing participants ability correctly label vignette depicted depressive symptomsdemographic data psychiatric symptoms perceived need seeking services primary care counselor religious leader lifetime utilization services medical specialty mental health religious leader emotional problems also assessed surveyresults high depression literacy ie able correctly label vignette found 53 samplemen lower depression literacy women 35 vs 68 effect remained controlling demographic symptom variablesmultivariable regression analyses revealed including demographic symptoms variables regression equation depression literacy significantly predict perceived need doctor counselor religious leader depression literacy significantly predicted utilization religious leader doctor counselor