IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v57y2011i4p387-401.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Community and Health Professionals’ Attitude Toward Depression: a Pilot Study in Nine Eaad Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Gert Scheerder

    (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, gert.scheerder@med.kuleuven.be)

  • Chantal Van Audenhove

    (LUCAS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium)

  • Ella Arensman

    (National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland)

  • Barbara Bernik

    (Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Giancarlo Giupponi

    (San Maurizio Hospital, Bolzano, Italy)

  • Anne-Claire Horel

    (Centre Hospitalier René Dubos, Cergy-Pontoise Cedex, France)

  • Margaret Maxwell

    (Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK)

  • Merike Sisask

    (Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute, Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Andras Szekely

    (Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University Budapest, Hungary)

  • Airi Värnik

    (Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute and Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Ulrich Hegerl

    (Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Universität Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

Background: Community facilitators (CFs), such as pharmacists, policemen, teachers and clergy, may be an important community resource for patients with depression in addition to (mental) health professionals. However, they are ill prepared for such a role and little is known about their attitudes toward depression, which may affect practice. Aim: To investigate CFs’ attitudes toward depression and compare them to those of (mental) health professionals and nurses. Method: Attitudes were assessed in participants ( n = 2,670) of training programmes about depression in nine countries of the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD). The EAAD questionnaire included attitudes toward depression and its treatment, perceived causes, preferred treatment options, and knowledge of depression symptoms. Results: CFs and nurses had a more negative attitude toward patients with depression and toward antidepressants, and more limited knowledge of depression symptoms than (mental) health professionals. CFs more frequently supported non-standard treatment for depression. Nurse assistants clearly differed from registered nurses with their attitudes being among the least favourable and their knowledge the most limited of all groups. Conclusions: CFs and nurses had less favourable attitudes and more limited knowledge regarding depression when compared to mental health professionals and doctors. This may negatively affect professional collaboration, challenge optimal treatment and stigmatize patients. CFs’ and nurses’ knowledge and attitudes may be similar to those of the general population and be related to a lack of training in mental health issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Gert Scheerder & Chantal Van Audenhove & Ella Arensman & Barbara Bernik & Giancarlo Giupponi & Anne-Claire Horel & Margaret Maxwell & Merike Sisask & Andras Szekely & Airi Värnik & Ulrich Hegerl, 2011. "Community and Health Professionals’ Attitude Toward Depression: a Pilot Study in Nine Eaad Countries," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(4), pages 387-401, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:4:p:387-401
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764009359742
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764009359742
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0020764009359742?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leavey, Gerard & Loewenthal, Kate & King, Michael, 2007. "Challenges to sanctuary: The clergy as a resource for mental health care in the community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 548-559, August.
    2. Link, B.G. & Phelan, J.C. & Bresnahan, M. & Stueve, A. & Pescosolido, B.A., 1999. "Public conceptions of mental illness: Labels, causes, dangerousness, and social distance," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(9), pages 1328-1333.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kathy Knox & Jasmina Fejzic & Amary Mey & Jane L Fowler & Fiona Kelly & Denise McConnell & Laetitia Hattingh & Amanda J Wheeler, 2014. "Mental health consumer and caregiver perceptions of stigma in Australian community pharmacies," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(6), pages 533-543, September.
    2. O Abayomi & AO Adelufosi & A Olajide, 2013. "Changing attitude to mental illness among community mental health volunteers in south-western Nigeria," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 59(6), pages 609-612, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Omar Hegazi & Samer Alalalmeh & Ahmad Alfaresi & Soheil Dashtinezhad & Ahmed Bahada & Moyad Shahwan & Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun & Tesleem K. Babalola & Haya Yasin, 2022. "Development, Validation, and Utilization of a Social Media Use and Mental Health Questionnaire among Middle Eastern and Western Adults: A Pilot Study from the UAE," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Wright, Annemarie & Jorm, Anthony F. & Mackinnon, Andrew J., 2011. "Labeling of mental disorders and stigma in young people," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(4), pages 498-506, August.
    3. Kathy Knox & Jasmina Fejzic & Amary Mey & Jane L Fowler & Fiona Kelly & Denise McConnell & Laetitia Hattingh & Amanda J Wheeler, 2014. "Mental health consumer and caregiver perceptions of stigma in Australian community pharmacies," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(6), pages 533-543, September.
    4. Ben Butlin & Keith Laws & Rebecca Read & Matthew D Broome & Shivani Sharma, 2019. "Concepts of mental disorders in the United Kingdom: Similarities and differences between the lay public and psychiatrists," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(6), pages 507-514, September.
    5. Yang, Lawrence H. & Purdie-Vaughns, Valerie & Kotabe, Hiroki & Link, Bruce G. & Saw, Anne & Wong, Gloria & Phelan, Jo C., 2013. "Culture, threat, and mental illness stigma: Identifying culture-specific threat among Chinese-American groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 56-67.
    6. Ahmed El Missiry & Marwa Abd El Meguid & Ahmed Abourayah & Marwa El Missiry & Mohamed Hossam & Hussien Elkholy & Afaf H Khalil, 2019. "Rates and profile of victimization in a sample of Egyptian patients with major mental illness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(3), pages 183-193, May.
    7. Carpiano, Richard M. & Fitz, Nicholas S., 2017. "Public attitudes toward child undervaccination: A randomized experiment on evaluations, stigmatizing orientations, and support for policies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 127-136.
    8. Dobransky, Kerry, 2009. "The good, the bad, and the severely mentally ill: Official and informal labels as organizational resources in community mental health services," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 722-728, September.
    9. Pinto-Foltz, Melissa D. & Logsdon, M. Cynthia & Myers, John A., 2011. "Feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a knowledge-contact program to reduce mental illness stigma and improve mental health literacy in adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(12), pages 2011-2019, June.
    10. Karine S Nersessova & Tomas Jurcik & Timothy L Hulsey, 2019. "Differences in beliefs and attitudes toward Depression and Schizophrenia in Russia and the United States," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(5), pages 388-398, August.
    11. Johan M. Berlin & Eric D. Carlström, 2015. "Cultural camouflage—a critical study of how artefacts are camouflaged and mental health policy subverted," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 111-126, April.
    12. Joseph S DeLuca & John Vaccaro & Jenna Seda & Philip T Yanos, 2018. "Political attitudes as predictors of the multiple dimensions of mental health stigma," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(5), pages 459-469, August.
    13. Yasuyuki Okumura & Shinji Sakamoto, 2012. "Depression treatment preferences among Japanese undergraduates: Using conjoint analysis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 58(2), pages 195-203, March.
    14. Adrian Furnham & Elizabeth Anthony, 2010. "Lay Theories of Bipolar Disorder: the Causes, Manifestations and Cures for Perceived Bipolar Disorder," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 56(3), pages 255-269, May.
    15. Medina-Perucha, Laura & Scott, Jenny & Chapman, Sarah & Barnett, Julie & Dack, Charlotte & Family, Hannah, 2019. "A qualitative study on intersectional stigma and sexual health among women on opioid substitution treatment in England: Implications for research, policy and practice," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 315-322.
    16. Hsing-Jung Chao & Yin-Ju Lien & Yu-Chen Kao & I-Chuan Tasi & Hui-Shin Lin & Yin-Yi Lien, 2020. "Mental Health Literacy in Healthcare Students: An Expansion of the Mental Health Literacy Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    17. Amy J Morgan & Anna Ross & Nicola J Reavley, 2018. "Systematic review and meta-analysis of Mental Health First Aid training: Effects on knowledge, stigma, and helping behaviour," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, May.
    18. Stuber, Jennifer & Galea, Sandro & Link, Bruce G., 2008. "Smoking and the emergence of a stigmatized social status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 420-430, August.
    19. Vyncke, Bart & Van Gorp, Baldwin, 2020. "Using counterframing strategies to enhance anti-stigma campaigns related to mental illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    20. Minhwa Lee & Mikyung Seo, 2018. "Effect of direct and indirect contact with mental illness on dangerousness and social distance," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(2), pages 112-119, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:4:p:387-401. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.