“Depression Literacy And Depression Stigma Among Adolescent Students”

Abstract

Background: A high level of depression literacy encompasses sufficient knowledge and a positive attitude towards depression. Depression is characterized by loss of pleasure, continuous sadness, frustration, irritation and lethargy. The development and maintenance of social and emotional habits are critical for mental health, occur during adolescence.Aim & Objective: Aim and Objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge in Depression literacy and Depression stigma between adolescent as well as the impact of educational interventions on these topics.

Methods and Materials: This study was carried out at selected schools in Rajpipla, Gujarat. After obtaining consent, 400 adolescent students were chosen, and asked to fill the DSS (Depression stigma Scale), D-Lit (Depression Literacy Questionnaire) and the Demographic Characteristics questionnaire. Students received instruction on depressive literacy and stigma, and their post-test results were examined and analysed.Results: From 400 participants, 176(44.0%) were 16 year of age,. 212(53.0%) students were Female. 381(95.3%) were Hindu 288(72.05%) students were from 12^th grade.63(15.8%) student’s father were Government employee. 156(39.0%) Students’ mother were self-employed, 210(52.5.0%) Students ‘mother were unemployed. 256(64.0%) students were living in joint family, 392(98.0%) students were familiar of Depression with none, for normality test, Kolmogorov – Smirnov test was applied and to compared median between pre and post data Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was applied. DLIT: Nagative ranks were 19, positive ranks were 379 and there were only 2 ties, test statistic value was -16.300 with p – value < 0.001 (Significance Level). i.e., values for DLIT were significantly increased in the post measure. DSS PERSONAL: Nagative ranks were 332, positive ranks were 52 and there were only 16 ties, test statistic value was -14.828with p – value < 0.001 (Significance Level). i.e., values for DSS PERSONAL were significantly decreased in the post measure. DSS PERCIEVED: Nagative ranks were 349, positive ranks were 45 and there were only 6 ties, test statistic value was -15.397 with p – value < 0.001 (Significance Level). i.e., values for DSS PERCIEVED were significantly decreased in the post measure.Posttest Depression stigma personal score mean 9.34 SD 2.62 and perceived score - Mean 10.18 and SD 3.08Which shows decreased after the intervention.Conclusions: It was discovered that Adolescents were having low levels of depression literacy and high levels of stigma. Both of these things were alleviated by educational intervention.