Depression literacy, attitudes, and help-seeking preferences: A cross-sectional survey of undergraduate students at a university in Western Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Mental disorders are a wide range of conditions characterized by occasional or chronic changes in thinking, emotion, or behaviour. They have become a global public health concern due to their widespread occurrences and devastating effects. It is estimated that one in three people in South Africa will or do suffer from a mental health issue in their lifetime. Depression is a common mental disorder and is one of the leading causes of health-related disability amongst young people globally. The main purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking preferences of depression in undergraduate students at a university of the Western Cape.