Mood matters: a national survey on attitudes to depression

Depression is the leading contributor to the burden of disease worldwide. Stigma and negative attitudes to depression can act as barriers to treatment and to social inclusion. Understanding attitudes to depression and treatment has implications for individual outcomes and societal mental health.

To explore public attitudes to, and management of depression, including lifestyle factors, medication, and psychotherapy.

A nationally representative online population survey of Irish adults was conducted by RED C.

Nine hundred ninety-one people completed the survey. The majority thought that depression was a medical illness (90%), was different to sadness or stress (89%), and that awareness of depression was increasing (89%), while stigma was reducing (69%). Self-reported lifetime depression rates were high and were significantly higher in younger people (18-34 yrs) (63% vs 55%, p = 0.017), and in urban areas (60% vs 44%, p < 0.0001). Younger people were less likely to contact their GP (46% vs 61%, p = 0.034) and reported more stigma around antidepressants (ADTs) compared to older people (> 55 years) (74% vs 58%, p < 0.0001). There were negative attitudes to ADTs and a preference for talking therapies and lifestyle changes. Males were more likely to hold negative attitudes to ADTs.

Stigma around depression is reducing and public awareness is improving. However, the very high self-reported lifetime rates of depression may reflect milder forms or emotional/psychological distress, rather than clinical depression. Negative attitudes and stigma towards ADTs remains high. A collaborative, sustained effort is required to advance public appreciation of mood and its management, across the severity spectrum, in tandem with destigmatising the targeted use of ADTs.