“Everyone will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime.”
In the survey, most Canadians correctly identified depression as the most pervasive mental illness. Fifty-eight per cent selected depression, 10% stress or anxiety disorders, and 6% schizophrenia.
Similarly, when asked to identify the most common mental health problems, the most frequent response in both series of focus groups was depression, followed by anxiety/stress. Almost every group also had participants who identified schizophrenia as a common mental illness. These results are similar to research findings from Australia. Footnote 63 Focus group findings also suggest that, like Australians, Canadians do not think of mental health problems as health problems: In the first series of discussions, youth and seniors were asked to identify the major health problems facing their age group, and no one mentioned mental disorders, although depression represents a significant health problem in Canada. Footnote 64 Many participants in both series of focus group discussions were unsure of what exactly constitutes a mental illness, and they identified a range of disorders as mental illnesses including developmental disabilities and neurological disorders.
The literature review indicates that people are often unable to identify a mental illness in a vignette using the correct diagnostic label, although recognition of depression has improved over the years in countries that have mounted public education campaigns. Footnote 65 Canadians showed a higher degree of recognition of mental disorders, especially depression, than might be expected.
Figure 1 shows the survey results for recognition, with combined responses for the male and female vignettes. Recognition was high for depression, with almost four out of five Canadian respondents able to label depression correctly in a vignette. Accuracy was much lower in the case of vignettes with individuals showing symptoms of schizophrenia and anxiety, and respondents often identified depression incorrectly instead. Women were more accurate than were men. Healthcare workers were only slightly more accurate compared to non-health care workers.
Return to note 63 Highet et al, 2002
Return to note 64 Government of Canada, 2006
Return to note 65 Jorm et al, 1997a; Jorm et al, 2005a; Goldney et al, 2001; Lauber et al, 2003; Jorm et al, 2006b