Published in:
01-11-2015 | Original Article
Whom to Ask for Professional Help in Case of Major Depression? Help-Seeking Recommendations of the Sardinian Public
Authors:
Maria Francesca Moro, Matthias C. Angermeyer, Herbert Matschinger, Anita Holzinger, Anna Paola Piras, Francesca Cutrano, Gioia Mura, Mauro Giovanni Carta
Published in:
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
|
Issue 6/2015
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Abstract
Purpose of the study is to investigate help-seeking preferences of the Sardinian public in case of depression. A telephone survey was conducted among the adult population, using quota sampling (N = 1,200). Respondents were presented with a vignette depicting a person with symptoms of major depressive disorder, followed by a fully structured interview. Psychologists were most frequently selected as source of professional help, followed by psychiatrists and G.P.s. Residents of small towns more frequently recommended mental health professionals than city residents. Public help-seeking preferences reflect the availability of services, beliefs about the appropriate treatment of depression and attitudes towards those providing it.