Quantifying and predicting depression literacy of undergraduates: A cross sectional study in Sri Lanka

SD Amarasuriya; AF Jorm; NJ Reavley

Journal article

Quantifying and predicting depression literacy of undergraduates: A cross sectional study in Sri Lanka

SD Amarasuriya, AF Jorm, NJ Reavley

BMC Psychiatry | BMC | Published : 2015

DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0658-8

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Abstract

Background: The high rates of depression and low rates of related help-seeking among undergraduates are matters for concern. In response to the need to examine their knowledge about depression and its management, and the dearth of such research from non-western developing countries, this study examined the depression literacy of undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Methods: A questionnaire was administered among 4671 undergraduates to examine their depression literacy relating to problem-recognition, measured using a vignette of a depressed undergraduate, and their treatment beliefs measured by assessing their perceptions about the helpfulness of various options of help for the presented problem. Re..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Anthony Jorm Author

Nicola Reavley Author

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Funding Acknowledgements

The authors thank the academic and administrative staff of the University of Colombo for their ready co-operation during data collection. We also convey our grateful thanks to the undergraduates of the University of Colombo who voluntarily participated in this study. We thank all those who participated in the cultural adaptation of the measure and the Sri Lankan mental health professionals who participated in the online survey, thereby providing a benchmark to assess the depression literacy of the undergraduates. No funding was received for this project other than for printing the paper-based questionnaires and for data entry obtained through a NHMRC Australia Fellowship awarded to AFJ.