Further research into public beliefs suggests that mental health literacy involves a number of factors, and that knowledge and beliefs about mental health disorders emerge from general pre-existing belief systems about health and health interventions.
Jorm, A.F., Korten, A.E. , Jacomb, P.A., Christensen, H., Rodgers, B. & Pollitt, P. (1997). “Mental health literacy”: A survey of the public’s ability to recognize mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. Medical Journal of Australia. 166: 182-186.
Jorm, A. (2000). Mental health literacy: Public knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry. 177:396-401.
Social capital represents the degree of social cohesion which exists in communities. It refers to the processes between people which establish networks, norms, and social trust, and facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit.
WHO Health Promotion Glossary, 1998
Social support is that assistance available to individuals and groups from within communities which can provide a buffer against adverse life events and living conditions, and can provide a positive resource for enhancing the quality of life.
WHO Health Promotion Glossary, 1998
Stigma is a mark of disgrace or discredit that sets a person apart from others. It involves negative stereotypes and prejudice about others and is often measured in terms of social distance (the degree to which people are willing to interact socially with others). Stigma can be enacted through social rejection and discrimination or felt as the fear of social rejection and discrimination (Scrambler, 1998).
Byrne, P (2001). Psychiatric stigma. British Journal of Psychiatry. 178:281-284. Corrigan, P.W. & Penn, D.L. (September, 1999). Lessons from social psychology on discrediting psychiatric stigma. American Psychologist. 54(9): 765-776. Scambler, G. (1998) Stigma and disease: Changing paradigms. The Lancet. 352: 1054-1055.