title: Mental health literacy among Internet users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intervening early in the course of psychotic illness may improve the long-term outcome. Early intervention requires early recognition, and one factor that influences early recognition is the level of mental health literacy (MHL) in the population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the level of MHL regarding depression and psychosis in an Irish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We invited the registered users of Ireland's most popular community website (http://www.boards.ie) to participate in an online survey. Two standardized vignettes depicting depression and psychosis were presented, and respondents were asked about what they thought the conditions were and who might be best placed to help the person. Participants were asked a series of knowledge-based questions about psychosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine hundred and ninety-eight (770 males, 228 females) people participated. Using a case vignette model, 78% and 93% of respondents correctly identified depression and psychosis/schizophrenia, respectively. However, half of the participants described schizophrenia as a 'split personality disorder'. Neither age nor urbanicity influenced the probability of correctly identifying the diagnosis, but females and university students were more likely to correctly identify the diagnosis. More than 90% believed intervening early in psychosis is likely to improve outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Internet users in this survey have high levels of MHL, identify appropriate pathways to care, and their views on management are consistent with evidence-based treatments.
authors.affiliation: DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland. elizabeth.lawlor@sjog.ie
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Breslin
authors.forename: Laoise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Renwick
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Una
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mulkerrin
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Eadbhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult