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Symptom recognition and help seeking for depression in young adults: a vignette study

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Many young people with psychological problems do not seek help. Recognition of problems and knowledge of appropriate sources of help may increase the likelihood of help seeking. This study aimed to explore whether young adults recognised depressive symptoms in a vignette, and how they thought a young person might respond to these symptoms.

Methods

A postal survey was sent to 3,004 young people aged 16–24 in SW England. The survey included a two-part vignette; the first part depicted mild depressive symptoms, and the second part depicted severe depressive symptoms. Open-ended questions exploring symptom recognition and illness behaviour were answered by 1,125 respondents.

Results

Severe depressive symptoms were recognised by 61.4% of respondents. Young men, particularly those from deprived backgrounds were less likely than women to recognise a mental health problem. Men were also less likely to suggest seeing a doctor than women. 64.7% of the respondents who recognised a mental health problem suggested seeing a doctor, however, only 16.4% thought a severely depressed person actually would see a doctor.

Conclusions

Whilst the majority of young people recognised symptoms of severe depression, the gap between perceived options for help and proposed help seeking behaviour is clinically relevant. The sociodemographic groups at greatest risk of suicide are the least likely to recognise depression, highlighting a need to develop interventions targeting men, particularly those from deprived backgrounds.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Professor Debbie Sharp (Department of Primary Care, University of Bristol) for contributing towards the design of the study. We would also like to thank the young people who participated in this research. David Gunnell and Jenny Donovan are NIHR senior investigators. This research was funded by NHS South West region. The funder had no further role in study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, or writing this paper.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK

    Emily Klineberg, Lucy Biddle, Jenny Donovan & David Gunnell

Authors
  1. Emily Klineberg
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  2. Lucy Biddle
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  3. Jenny Donovan
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  4. David Gunnell
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Correspondence to Emily Klineberg.

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Klineberg, E., Biddle, L., Donovan, J. et al. Symptom recognition and help seeking for depression in young adults: a vignette study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 46, 495–505 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0214-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0214-2

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