Depression stigma in Australian high school students

Abstract

To identify predictors of depression stigma in a group of Australian school students, participants (1,804 students aged 12-15 years) completed a questionnaire covering sociodemographic information, recognition of depression in a vignette, stigma towards a depressed peer, help-seeking intentions, information from teachers, and student mental health. Results suggested that depression stigma is a multidimensional construct with different factors predicting different aspects of stigma. Increased recognition of depression was associated with an increased belief in depression as a sickness rather than a weakness, but also with an increased belief that those with depression are dangerous and unpred..