title: Mental health literacy in higher education students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With approximately 50% of young people aged 18-24 in tertiary education, these are potential settings for programmes to improve mental health literacy. A survey was carried out with students and staff of a tertiary education institution to investigate recognition of depression, help-seeking intentions, beliefs about interventions and stigmatizing attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students of an Australian metropolitan university (with staff as a comparison group) participated in a telephone interview. They answered questions relating to mental health literacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the completed interviews, 774 (65%) were students and 422 (35%) were staff. Over 70% of students and staff were able to recognize depression in a vignette, with greater likelihood of recognition in students associated with older age, female gender, being born in Australia and a higher level of education. Over 80% of respondents said they would seek help if they had a problem similar to that of the vignette. However, rates of specific help-seeking intentions for students were relatively low, with only 26% nominating a general practitioner and only 10% nominating a student counsellor. Factors associated with stigmatizing attitudes included male gender, younger age, lower level of education, being born outside Australia and lack of recognition of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for mental health literacy interventions targeted at students, particularly those who are younger, male, born outside Australia and of a lower level of education. As rates of specific help-seeking intentions for students were relatively low, there is a need for further exploration of the barriers to help seeking from professional sources.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. nreavley@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Reavley
authors.forename: Terence V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult