Viren Swami
Mental Health Literacy of Depression: Gender Differences and Attitudinal Antecedents in a Representative British Sample
University of Westminster
background poor mental health literacy negative attitudes toward individuals mental health disorders may impede optimal helpseeking symptoms mental illhealth present study examined ability recognize cases depression function respondent target gender well individual psychological differences attitudes toward persons depression methods representative british general population survey ability correctly recognize vignettes depression assessed among 1218 adults respondents also rated vignettes along number attitudinal dimensions completed measures attitudes toward seeking psychological help psychiatric skepticism antiscientific attitudes results significant differences ability correctly identify cases depression function respondent target gender respondents likely indicate male vignette suffer mental health disorder compared female vignette women likely men indicate male vignette suffered mental health disorder attitudes toward persons depression associated attitudes toward seeking psychological help psychiatric skepticism antiscientific attitudes conclusion initiatives consider impact gender stereotypes well individual differences may enhance mental health literacy turn associated improved helpseeking behaviors symptoms mental illhealth