Globally, depression is marked to become the second leading cause of disability by 2020 (Murray & Lopez, 1996). Six percent of New Zealanders experience a major depressive disorder each year and 14% will experience a major depressive disorder at some point in their lives (Ministry of Health, 2012; Wells, 2006). In 2006, anxiety and depressive disorders were the second leading cause of health loss (healthy life lost due to illness, impairment or premature death) (Ministry of Health, 2013). One of the most common reasons people are absent from work or unable to run a home is due to suffering from depression (Ministry of Health, 2009).
The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) seeks to reduce the burden of depression on New Zealanders through the National Depression Initiative and by monitoring knowledge and awareness of depression through the Health and Lifestyles Survey (HLS).
Methodology
The 2012 HLS included two questions that assessed people’s knowledge and measured their awareness of depression. First, respondents were asked how confident they would be in recognising that a close friend was experiencing untreated depression. Respondents were also asked to suggest some ways to treat depression.
Methodology
The 2012 HLS included two questions that assessed people’s knowledge and measured their awareness of depression. First, respondents were asked how confident they would be in recognising that a close friend was experiencing untreated depression. Responses to this question were examined by gender, age (15 to 24 years, compared with 25 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and 65+ years), ethnicity (Māori, compared with Pacific, Asian, and European/Other), educational status (university degree/postgraduate qualification, compared with trade certificate/professional qualification/ undergraduate diploma, secondary school qualification, and no formal education), employment status (full time, compared with part time, homemaker, and other), social media use (none, compared with low, moderate, and high levels of use), and level of connectedness (high level of connectedness, compared with moderate and low levels of connectedness). When looking at differences by social media use we have controlled for age and when looking at differences by connectedness we have controlled for both gender and age. This means that we take into account a respondent’s age and/or gender, to ensure than any differences found are not in fact due to the respondent’s age and/or gender.
Respondents were also asked to suggest some ways to treat depression. Multiple responses were permitted. The five most popular responses to this question were examined by gender, age (15 to 24 years, compared with 25 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years and 65+ years), and location (urban, compared with rural). When looking at differences by location we have controlled for age.
Proportional odds ratios were used for comparing confidence in detecting untreated depression among different groups. The comparison confidence categories were some level of confidence (combined response categories of ‘very confident’, ‘confident’ and ‘somewhat confident’) versus not at all confident (response category ‘not at all confident’).
Results relating to confidence in being able to identify and treat depression reflect respondents’ own perceptions. As such, respondents may overestimate their ability to identify and treat depression and, similarly, they may underestimate their ability to identify and treat depression.
Only those group differences that were statistically significant (p < 0.05) are reported.
Key Results
- Almost three-quarters of respondents were ‘very confident’, ‘confident’ or ‘somewhat confident’ that they would be aware of untreated depression in one of their close friends.
- Respondents with a higher odds of ‘some level of confidence’ in detecting untreated depression in a close friend were females, those aged 15 to 24 years, those who had a part-time job, those with a moderate level of social media use, and those witha high or moderate level of connectedness.
- The top five ways suggested to treat depression were support from friends or family, seeing a doctor, seeing a therapist, regular exercise, and having someone to listen.
- There were differences by gender, location and age in the most common suggested ways to treat depression.