Mental health illiteracy, stigma more common in men, younger adults, higher incomes

Individuals who were male, living in urban areas, younger, and who had higher household income were less likely to recognize symptoms of mental health disorders and more likely to report stigma.

“Our work is designed to help communities think about how to address behavioral health challenges as they emerge, whether that's drug abuse, anxiety or other issues, and the challenges such as suicide that can accompany them,” study researcher Mark Skidmore, PhD, of Michigan State University, said in a press release.

Mark Skidmore

To assess mental health literacy in the U.S., researchers analyzed results from a nationally representative web-based survey of 4,577 individuals. Study participants were surveyed about depression (n = 2,622), anxiety (n = 647), alcohol abuse (n = 650), and prescription drug misuse (n = 658). After receiving a short description of an individual experiencing symptoms of these disorders, participants were asked to identify what they believed to be wrong with individual and how to best help the individual. They were asked if they had negative attitudes about these disorders and if they observed negative attitudes within their community.

Depression

Overall, 31% of participants were unable to identify depression.

Participants who recognize depression were more likely to recommend professional help (61%) than self-help strategies (36%).

Participants who recognized depression were less likely to report stigma (42% vs. 30%), compared with those who did not recognize depression.

Participants who recognized depression reported similar rates of stigma in their community (71% vs. 71%), compared with those who did not recognize depression.

Participants who were male, living in urban areas, younger, and from households with higher income were less likely to recognize depression and more likely to report stigma.

Anxiety

Overall, 54% of participants were unable to identify anxiety.

Participants who recognized anxiety were more likely to recommend professional help vs. self-help strategies (57% vs. 42%).

Stigma was less common among participants who recognized anxiety (45% vs. 31%), compared with those who did not recognize it.

Community stigma was more commonly reported among participants who recognized anxiety vs. those who did not recognize it (75% vs. 72%).

Participants who were male, living in urban areas, younger, and from households with higher income were less likely to recognize anxiety and more likely to report stigma.

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Alcohol abuse

Overall, 37% of participants were unable to identify alcohol abuse.

Participants who recognized alcohol abuse were more likely to recommend self-help strategies over professional help (66% vs. 33%).

Participants who recognized alcohol abuse were more likely to report stigma (79% vs. 74%), compared with those who did not recognize alcohol abuse.

Community stigma was more commonly reported by participants who recognized alcohol abuse (83% vs. 75%), compared with those who did not recognize it.

Participants who were male, living in urban areas, and from households with higher income were less likely to recognized alcohol abuse and more likely to report stigma.

Younger participants were less likely to recognize alcohol abuse but reported similar levels of stigma compared with other age groups.

Prescription drug misuse

Overall, 32% of participants were unable to identify prescription drug misuse.

Participants who recognized prescription drug misuse were more likely to recommend self-help strategies vs. professional help (69% vs. 30%).

Participants reported similar levels of stigma, regardless of their ability to recognize prescription drug misuse (77% vs. 78%).

Participants who recognized prescription drug misuse were more likely to report community stigma (85% vs. 75%), compared with those who did not recognize it.

Participants who were male, living in urban areas, younger, and from households with higher income were less likely to recognize prescription drug misuse and more likely to report stigma.

“Although great strides have been made in the area of mental health literacy in recent decades the discrepancies in mental health knowledge, helping behaviors and stigma show the importance of continuing to educate the public about mental health issues,” the researchers wrote. – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

http://www.healthbench.info/mh-literacy-survey.html