Can Sri Lankan Australians Recognise Depression? The Influence of Acculturation, Age and Experiences with Depression on Recognition

Amanda Daluwatta (), Dushan Peiris, Kathryn Fletcher, Chris Ludlow and Greg Murray
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Amanda Daluwatta: Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
Dushan Peiris: Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
Kathryn Fletcher: Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
Chris Ludlow: Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
Greg Murray: Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: Mental health literacy is an important determinant of mental health help-seeking and is associated with improved mental health. There is evidence that mental health literacy may be lower amongst some migrant communities in Australia. The present study conducted the first cross-sectional survey of mental health literacy in Sri Lankan Australians between April and October 2020. Participants ( N = 404) were presented with a culturally-tailored vignette describing an individual with symptoms of major depressive disorder, with correct recognition determined by the coding of an open text response to the question ‘what’s wrong with Mr Silva?’. Binomial linear regression modelling was conducted to identify predictors of the correct recognition of depression. Approximately 74% of participants recognised the presented symptoms as depression, though multiple other labels were also used by the respondents. The results also suggested that younger age and having a prior diagnosis of depression were significant predictors of recognising depression in the vignette. In the first study of Sri Lankan migrants’ mental health literacy in an Australian context, the rates of depression recognition were comparable to those found in the general Australian population. Further research is urgently required to replicate and extend the present findings and ultimately support the development of tailored interventions aimed at improving mental health literacy across the diverse Sri Lankan Australian community.

Keywords: mental health literacy; Sri Lanka; Australia; depression; problem recognition; help-seeking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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