Depression Literacy of Women and Girls in Terms of Prevention and Interventions

Recognizing the status of mental health literacy among women and girls as effective and key individuals in family and society seem to be essential. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate depression literacy among women and girls in Tehran on prevention and effective interventions for improving depression.

This study was part of a large mental health literacy project on residents of Tehran in 2017, with a sample size of 1023 girls and women aged 16-68 years. Random Digit Dialing (RDD) sampling was done using the Australian questionnaire, whose Persian version’s validity and reliability was tested in our previous study. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software.In order to determine the effect of demographic variables on predicting depression literacy among participants, multiple regression analysis was performed.

Receiving counseling, relaxation training, having physical activity, and studying self-help books were the most helpful items, respectively, from the participations’ point of view. More than 70% of participants agreed with avoiding stressful situations and close relationship with family and friends, while only 49.8% agreed with coping skills learning. Based on the regression analysis, only higher education and the history of exposure to a person with similar Vignette problem were able to predict mental health literacy in the area of intervention and prevention.

Considering the effects of women’s and girls’ depression on individual, family, and even social life, more attention should be paid to improve depression literacy in this group.