title: Perspectives of young people on depression: awareness, experiences, attitudes and treatment preferences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ascertaining current knowledge and attitudes towards depression among young people is vital for developing campaigns promoting community awareness and early intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interviews of persons aged 18-90 years were conducted by beyondblue in Australia in 2002 and 2004/05. Items assessed consideration of depression as a major general health or mental health problem, knowledge about prevalence of depression, usual age of onset for depression or anxiety and treatment preferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surveys included 2003 and 3200 persons, respectively, with 285 and 400 aged between 18 and 25 years. Depression was not recognized by young persons as a major general health problem (1-2% of responses), but was the most frequently named mental health problem (37-42%). Younger persons were more likely than older persons to see depression as the major mental health problem, placing less emphasis on alcohol and other drug problems. They preferred first to seek help from family or friends (61-65%) and try non-pharmacological treatments. Although understanding of the helpfulness of several evidence-based treatments was good, many younger respondents still considered non-evidence-based treatments to be helpful. A quarter of subjects believed antidepressant medications were harmful and that alcohol use may be helpful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although knowledge about depression was good, young people do not recognize depression as a major general health problem and remain reluctant to use professional services. These attitudes represent significant barriers to seeking treatment early in the course of common mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ianh@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hickie
authors.forename: Georgina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Luscombe
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Nicole J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Highet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents