Depression and stigma down under

For people suffering from depression the stigma associated with the disease often impedes diagnosis and treatment. A survey of over 6,000 people by researchers from the Australian National University looked into personal stigma - the negative attitude a person has towards depression - and perceived stigma, which describes the stigma felt by a person with depression. People who had come into contact with depression and those who knew most about it had lower levels of personal stigma. Men, older people, those with less education, those born overseas and people in greater psychological distress all had higher levels of personal stigma. One in five people in the survey said that they would not work with someone with depression.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/04/21/unraveling-the-stigma-of-depression/2170.html