Karin Dahlberg|Margda Wærn|Bo Runeson
Mental health literacy and attitudes in a Swedish community sample – Investigating the role of personal experience of mental health care
Karolinska Institutet|University of Gothenburg|Karolinska Institutet
mental ill health common condition general population yet half mental disorder treatment contact personal experience may affect attitudes turn influence helpseeking process study investigated differences mental health literacy attitudes among mentally healthy persons persons symptoms mental illness without treatment contacta postal screening questionnaire sent random sample general population aged 2064 county skaraborg sweden order ascertain mental health status history treatment contact 3538 responded 49 facetoface interviews carried random sub samples mentally healthy persons n 128 mentally ill persons n 125 without n 105 mental health care contact mental health literacy attitudes treatment assessed using questions based vignette depicting person depression past month mental disorder diagnosed according schedule clinical assessment neuropsychiatry scantwo thirds failed recognize depression vignette recognition equally poor mentally healthy persons persons symptoms mental illness without treatment contact response openended question concerning appropriate interventions one third suggested counselling one percent proposed antidepressant treatment proportions similar groups persons history mental health contact often suggested gp would provide best form help presented list possible interventions history mental health contact positive medical interventions antidepressants hypnotics inpatient psychiatric treatment asked prognosis condition described vignette persons treatment contact less likely believe full recovery without intervention mentally ill without treatment contact optimisticmental health literacy specially concerning attitudes towards interventions associated personal history mental health care