Beyondblue Depression Monitor - Independent findings from 2004 to 2012
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beyondblue Depression Monitor Independent findings from 2004 to 2012 www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 22 4636
Hope. Recovery. Resilience. Find out more at www.beyondblue.org.au B
Contents
Overview 2
Increasing awareness of depression 4
and anxiety
Reducing stigma and discrimination 9
Improving help seeking 13
Reducing the impact and disability of 19
depression and anxiety
Conclusion 21
Wallis Consulting conducted the Depression Monitor on behalf of beyondblue. The survey has been carried out
nationally every two to three years (2004, 2007, 2009 and 2012) with a randomly generated sample of 3,200 people
aged 18 years or older across Australia.
Within each state/territory, the number of interviews is in proportion to the population. Data is weighted by age, sex
and location (regional/metropolitan). Respondents are not informed that the survey has been commissioned by
beyondblue.
Findings that are statistically ‘significant’ at the 5 per cent significance level are identified throughout this report.
If a finding is statistically significant we can be 95 per cent confident that differences reported are real rather than
occurring just by chance. Significant differences are identified in the tables throughout this report using the letters a
(different from the 2004 survey data), b (different from the 2007 survey data), c (different from the 2009 survey data)
and d (the 2012 survey data). The data presented is from the 2012 survey, unless otherwise stated.
1
Overview
Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental Of even greater importance is evidence indicating that
health conditions in Australia, with around 1 million more people are taking positive action for themselves or
Australian adults living with depression and over 2 million others in response to depression. People are more likely
having an anxiety condition. beyondblue seeks to make a to:
difference in Australia for those affected by depression and
• seek information about depression – The proportion of
anxiety. Over its first decade, beyondblue has focused on:
people having sought information for depression rose
• increasing awareness of depression and anxiety from 35 per cent to 44 per cent between 2004 and 2012.
• reducing stigma and discrimination • seek support from those close to them – The proportion
• improving help-seeking when people are experiencing of people indicating they would turn to family members
difficulties or friends if depressed rose from 47 per cent to 65 per
cent between 2004 and 2012.
• reducing the impact and disability associated with
depression and anxiety. • get help that is needed – The proportion of people
indicating they or someone in their family had at some
Since 2004, beyondblue has commissioned the Depression stage received help for depression rose from 81 per cent
Monitor survey. This survey provides a national snapshot of in 2004 to 88 per cent in 2012.
awareness, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour relating to
depression and anxiety in the Australian community. Wallis While many organisations and individuals have contributed
Consulting has conducted a national telephone survey on to these positive changes, there is evidence that the work
behalf of beyondblue every two to three years (2004, 2007, of beyondblue, in particular, is leading to community-
2009 and 2012) with a randomly generated sample of 3,200 wide improvements in mental health. The Depression
people aged 18 and older. Monitor data demonstrates that people who are aware of
beyondblue were more likely than the general population to:
Overall, the data collected from 2004 to 2012 indicates that
awareness and knowledge about depression and anxiety • know some common symptoms of depression
in the Australian community has improved over time. It is • hold less stigmatising views of people with depression
evident that: • identify suitable treatment options
• people understand that depression and anxiety are • get help for depression
common
• be aware of unhelpful approaches for someone with
• people can identify some common signs and symptoms depression.
of depression
This data indicates that beyondblue is achieving its goals of
• people understand that depression is treatable increasing awareness of depression and anxiety; reducing
• people understand the impact of depression on associated stigma and discrimination; and improving
individuals and the community help-seeking for people with depression and anxiety.
• people understand that some groups have a greater risk
of depression.
It also indicates that there are improvements in community
stigma:
• fewer people hold negative, stigmatising attitudes
towards people with depression and anxiety
• most people are comfortable socialising and working
with people who have depression.
2
The Depression Monitor beyondblue is an independent, not-for-profit
shows that beyondblue is organisation working to increase awareness
and understanding of depression, anxiety and
achieving its goals of suicide prevention in Australia and to reduce the
associated stigma.
increasing awareness Our vision
An Australian community that understands
depression and anxiety, empowers people to
of depression and anxiety, seek help, and supports recovery, management
and resilience
reducing associated Our mission
To provide national leadership to reduce the impact of
stigma and discrimination, depression and anxiety in the Australian community
improving help-seeking Awareness of beyondblue
for people with Since 2004, awareness of beyondblue has increased
significantly. In particular:
depression and anxiety. • Unaided awareness of beyondblue as an organisation
related to depression has climbed from 18 per cent in
2005 to 56 per cent in 2012
• Aided awareness of beyondblue has climbed from 55 per
cent to 90 per cent over the same period.
More people are now taking It is worth noting that the growth in awareness appears to
postive action for be levelling out. In particular, unaided awareness has not
increased since 2010. These findings are illustrated in the
themselves or others
table below.
in response to depression.
Awareness of % of responses
beyondblue
2004 2007 2009 2012
Aware unaided 18 44 56 56
beyondblue’s work Aware when
beyondblue
mentioned
30 29 29 33
is leading to Total aware 48 73 85 89
community-wide
improvements
in mental health.
3
Increasing awareness of
depression and anxiety
Issue Depression Monitor data
Increasing awareness and understanding of depression Recognition of depression and anxiety as major
and anxiety is a fundamental component of beyondblue’s
health problems
work. Not being aware, or not understanding how
depression and anxiety can affect a person, may reduce the • More people now recognise that mental health is a
likelihood of people seeking help or supporting someone major health problem in Australia. While obesity and
experiencing these conditions. cancer have been consistently identified as major health
problems, mentions for ‘depression/mental health’
have more than doubled since 2004 from 7 per cent to
“In the last …five years, awareness has been amazing, 15 per cent. Those aware of beyondblue were more likely
mostly because of beyondblue. But there is still a big to mention mental health/ depression as a major health
section of the community who just don’t understand.” problem.
– Person with depression • When asked to identify the major mental health
problems facing Australia, more than 50 per cent of
respondents identified depression across the four
beyondblue’s work surveys. There is also increasing awareness of anxiety
– since 2004, mentions of anxiety and drugs/alcohol as
beyondblue’s objectives are to ensure that people know and major mental health problems have more than doubled.
understand:
• Women are consistently more likely than men to name
• the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety depression as a major mental health problem (65 per
• that depression and anxiety are common and there are cent compared to 51 per cent in the 2012 survey) but not
treatments that work anxiety (12 per cent of both men and women identified
anxiety in the 2012 survey). Besides men in general,
• the impact depression and anxiety can have on others who were less likely to identify depression
individuals, families, in the workplace and in the broader as being a major mental health problem included
community those aged 65 years and over, and people from non-
• that there are risks that may contribute to a person metropolitan areas.
developing depression and anxiety, as well as protective
Table 1: What are the major health problems in Australia?
factors
• that beyondblue is a leader in helping to reduce the Health % of responses
impact of depression and anxiety in the community. problems
identified*
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
beyondblue information resources
Obesity 43 59a 56a 59a
beyondblue provides an extensive range of free
information resources that focus on improving Cancer 46 46 43 43
the mental health of every person in Australia, at Heart disease 36c 34 32 33
every stage of life. Resources can be downloaded
or ordered via the beyondblue website www. Diabetes 14 24 a 23a 23a
beyondblue.org.au or by phoning the beyondblue Drug or alcohol
Support Service on 1300 22 4636. Since 2000, 11 16a 16a 16a
abuse
beyondblue has distributed over 70 million resources
Mental health 4 8a 6a 11a b c
across Australia.
Depression 3 6a d 4 4
Asthma 5c d 4 3 2
Arthritis 3c 3c 1 1
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
4
Table 2: What are the major mental health problems or having no energy’, ‘loss of interest and pleasure’ and
in Australia? ‘problems sleeping’.
Mental health % of responses Awareness of beyondblue was associated with better
problems knowledge of depressive symptoms. Those aware of
identified* beyondblue were significantly more likely to identify
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
‘problems with sleeping’ (12 per cent) compared to the
population average (5 per cent) with similar, although non-
Depression 54 56 61a b 58 significant, trends evident for most of the other symptoms.
Schizophrenia/ Table 3: What are the major signs or symptoms
22 23 24 21
psychosis
of depression?
Bipolar
disorder/manic - 11 14 14 Symptoms % of responses
depression identified*
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
Anxiety 5 7a 8a 12a b c
Drug or alcohol Withdrawal 42 48a 51a 55a b
6 15a c d 12a 11a
abuse
Sad, down or
Dementia 5 6 6 7 23 27a 32a b c 25c
miserable
Stress/ Loss of interest
10d 9 8 7 13 23a c d 18a 18a
pressure or pleasure
Alzheimer’s Tired or no
8b c d 4 5 5 14 19a c d 15 15
disease energy
Postnatal Problems with
1 2a c d 1 1 7 9a 8 9a
depression sleeping
* NB: Multiple responses permitted Change in
6 7 9a 9a
weight/appetite
Awareness of signs and symptoms of depression Poor
Most people know some common symptoms of concentration/
5 6c d 4 4
depression (see table 3). On average, participants in difficulty
the Depression Monitor survey identified two to three thinking
symptoms of depression in each of the four surveys, with Low
‘withdrawal’ being the most common symptom identified. confidence/
Since 2004, recognition of individual symptoms has 4 5 7a 7a
negative self-
improved for the following: esteem
• withdrawal from usual activities (13 per cent increase) Suicidal
• loss of interest or pleasure in things once enjoyed (5 per thoughts or
2 4a 5a 4a
tendencies
cent increase)
(self-harm)
• problems sleeping (2 per cent increase)
Being irritable 1 2 2 2
• changes in weight or appetite (2 per cent increase)
• low confidence/negative self-esteem (3 per cent increase) Despair or
2 1 1 2
• suicidal thoughts or tendencies (2 per cent increase). hopelessness
Women have better knowledge of depressive symptoms * NB: Multiple responses permitted
than men. For example, in the 2012 survey, women were
more likely than men to identify symptoms, including:
‘withdrawal’, feeling ‘sad, down or miserable’, feeling ‘tired
5
Get to know anxiety
Over 2 million people living in Australia have anxiety at any one time, making it more
common than depression, yet many people don’t recognise the symptoms.
The campaign
beyondblue developed the first national
anxiety awareness campaign, Get to
know anxiety, in response to research
that found despite anxiety being more
common than depression, most
people don’t know its symptoms.
A still from one of the advertisements used to promote the Get to know anxiety campaign.
The short film
The Get to know anxiety campaign
was launched on 6 May 2013, the
centrepiece of which was a short
film starring Australian-born and
internationally acclaimed actor Ben
Mendelsohn.
As the personification of anxiety,
Ben’s character introduces anxiety’s
symptoms. Once people know the
symptoms, Ben’s character asks them
what they’re going to do about it.
227,300+ Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn starring as Anxiety in the Get to know anxiety short film.
YouTube views
May 13–Feb 14
Increased traffic to
beyondblue services 504,830+
unique visits to
Advertising campaign
In January 2014, beyondblue 2,000+ beyondblue.org.au/anxiety
advertisements were played on
Channel 7 during The Australian Open
and in late December 2013, audiences
calls to the beyondblue
Support Service in the
46,500+
in selected cinemas showing The campaign’s first week people completed
Hobbit 2 viewed the Get to know anxiety the K10 checklist
short film. This activity reached 1.9 Over a 12-month period spanning the
million people at it’s peak. launch of the campaign, approximately
3,220+
2 million people experienced anxiety
and 504,839 people visited the anxiety
Social media page on beyondblue’s website.
beyondblue Facebook posts about The most popular sections on the people searched for a mental
the campaign inspired our online anxiety pages are: the facts, signs health professional
community to engage in a ‘talkfest’ and symptoms, and the anxiety and
about anxiety. There were more than
67,300+
depression checklist (K10).
2,000 comments generated, which
showed high levels of involvement and
recognition of campaign messages.
anxiety resources
downloaded
6
Awareness of groups at risk of developing Treatment awareness
depression Antidepressants are the most recognised treatment
While depression can affect anyone regardless of for depression. Women are more likely to identify
background or status, research in Australia has shown that antidepressants as a treatment option compared to men
some population groups are more vulnerable to depression (55 per cent versus 42 per cent), while those aged 35 to 44
than others. In the 2012 survey, approximately 60 per years have the highest rates for identifying antidepressants
cent of respondents believed there were groups more at (54 per cent) and those 65 years and over, the lowest (40 per
risk (see table 4). People most commonly identified young cent).
people, or those who are poor/have a low income, as being
Since 2004, there has been a 6 per cent increase in the
most at risk of depression.
identification of antidepressants as a treatment option
Table 4: Are there any particular groups of people in whereas mentions for ‘psychotherapy’ have decreased by
Australian society who are more likely to be depressed? 4 per cent since 2004. It is possible that this term is
used less often than in past years, particularly with the
emergence over the past decade of the more specific term,
At risk groups % of responses ‘talking therapies’.
identified*
2009 (c) 2012 (d)
Awareness of beyondblue is associated with better
(N=705) (N=1,035)
knowledge of treatment options, including knowledge
Young people 25 23 about antidepressants (55 per cent versus 49 per cent) and
cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) (16 per cent versus
Poor/low income 2 27c 11 per cent), compared to the population average. This
suggests that beyondblue’s information on depression and
Elderly 2 17c
anxiety is improving the community’s understanding of
Aboriginal or effective treatments.
Torres Strait
Older adults campaign
Older people experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general
community, but ageing itself doesn’t cause these conditions.
Many issues are linked to anxiety
and depression in older people, from
chronic illness and hospital stays
to social isolation, grief, and loss
of independence and mobility. We
know that many older people are
resilient. However, between 10 and 15
per cent experience depression and
approximately 10 per cent experience
anxiety.
The campaign – Phase 1
In October 2011, beyondblue launched
a national awareness campaign that
aimed to raise awareness of anxiety
and depression in older people and to
reduce the associated stigma.
The key message: ‘Depression and
anxiety – it’s not a normal part of
getting older’.
Advertisements featured older people
talking about what led them to speak
up and seek help for depression and
39%
anxiety.
of older adults 65+
saw the campaign Dale and Brian share their stories for phase 2
Phase 1 of the campaign, scheduled
of the older adults campaign.
to coincide with Seniors Weeks The campaign – Phase 2
across Australia, was promoted
nationally from late 2011 until early
2013. Advertising included radio
in metropolitan areas, TV in rural
During 2013-14, first-hand stories
of older people formed the basis of
phase 2 of the campaign, encouraging
43%
and regional locations, convenience other older people to get help for of all Australians
advertising across Australia as well depression and anxiety, and not ‘cover
as the distribution of approximately things up’ or keep the topic of their 65+ reached
360,000 information cards through mental health to themselves.
GPs and hospitals. Video clips of personal stories and Increased traffic to
photographs were produced as well as beyondblue services
360,000+
new posters and resources.
During the campaign, the beyondblue
Support Service reported an increase
Reach
of 8.5 per cent in average monthly
information cards distributed Phase 2 of the campaign reached contacts in the older demographic.
43 per cent of all Australians aged
through GPs and hospitals 65+, with 688,000 people reached
Reach
Around four in ten (40 per cent) older
people surveyed could recall seeing
through AM radio, afternoon and
evening programming and 1.1 million
reached through advertorials and
8.5%
advertising about depression or
advertisements in suburban and increase in calls to the
national newspapers.
anxiety in older people, with a large beyondblue Support Service
proportion of these (39 per cent ) citing from adults 65+
beyondblue as the source.
8Reducing stigma and discrimination
Issue Depression Monitor data
Most people with depression and anxiety experience Stigmatising beliefs
significant levels of stigma and discrimination. This can
have a devastating effect on relationships, employment, Data collected from the Depression Monitor shows
finding housing, and accessing insurance, health services that there has been a decline in stigmatising attitudes
and treatment. associated with depression and anxiety. In the most recent
2012 survey, significantly fewer participants agreed that
people with severe depression were ‘dangerous to others’,
‘have themselves to blame’, ‘are unpredictable’, ‘are
“I think the reality is… the stigma of mental illness is, in unreliable’, ‘are weak willed’, and ‘should pull themselves
some ways, worse than the illness itself. Unless the together’, compared to earlier surveys (see table 6). There
stigma can be removed to such a degree that it does not was a trend for people who were aware of beyondblue
become a barrier to acknowledgement, treatment and to hold fewer negative attitudes toward people with
hope for the future, the reduction [in the prevalence] of depression. This was evident by lower agreement rates
some mental illnesses will be nothing but a pipe dream.” for each of these statements compared to the population
– Person with a mental health condition average.
Table 6: To what extent do you agree or disagree
with the following statements regarding people with
beyondblue’s work severe depression?
beyondblue is working to:
Strongly % of responses
• reduce stigmatising attitudes associated with agree or agree
depression and anxiety within the community by having that people
people talk about their personal stories and continuing with severe 2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
to provide access to educational resources across the depression…*
community
Are dangerous
32d 32d 29 24
• reduce the levels of self-stigma (i.e. the negative to others
attitudes people with depression and anxiety have about
Have themselves
themselves) 15 21a d 19d 9
to blame
• reduce the discrimination experienced by people with
depression and anxiety through leadership and support Are
74d 68 68 64
unpredictable
for changes in attitudes, policies, practices and systems
– for example, in workplaces and schools Are unreliable - 52c d 44 44
• increase awareness of discrimination as a risk factor
Are weak willed - - 21d 14c
for people developing depression and anxiety, through
campaigns, programs, policies and advocacy. Should pull
themselves 30b c 24 21 25
together
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
9Stop. Think. Respect.
Lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people are three times more likely to
experience anxiety or depression than the general population and are at greater risk
of suicide and self-harm.
The campaign
Stop. Think. Respect. is a major
national campaign that encourages
Australians to stop discriminating
against people for simply being
themselves.
Launched in September 2012, the
campaign focuses on discrimination
against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and
intersex (LGBTI) people. It encourages
everyone to think about how the things
they say and do affect others and how
important it is to show respect for
people who are different from you.
The campaign was aimed at teenage
boys and men aged 13 to 24, and
people living in regional areas, with
the secondary audience being the
broader community.
managed to move on from anxiety and Of surveyed respondents, 60
1 in 3
depression, with pride in who they per cent strongly disagreed that
are. The stories have been viewed on ‘homosexuality is immoral’ compared
YouTube more than 22,000 times. with 48 per cent of those who weren’t
exposed to the campaign.
teenage boys
3.2 million
saw the campaign Advertising
The campaign’s messages were
The short film – Left handed promoted through targeted advertising
A two-minute short film Is it OK to be
in youth music publications, social people saw the campaign
media, and cinema, TV, outdoor and on social media
left handed? uses left-handedness
convenience advertising.
as an analogy to show that sustained
38,000+
subtle and/or overt discrimination can
have a significant impact on people’s Reach
health. The short film was screened in
cinemas and a 30-second version was One in three teenage boys was
broadcast on TV. exposed to at least one element of the likes on campaign
campaign since September 2012, with
Facebook posts
1.3 million young males reached.
551,700+ Of those who had seen the Left-handed
1.3 million
advertisement, 60 per cent took
away a general anti-discrimination
YouTube views message and 23 per cent explicitly
Sep 13–Feb 14 young males reached linked the message to discrimination
of LGBTI people.
Online feedback was positive, with 3.2
Real life stories million reached through Facebook.
Supporting the film are six video People exposed to the campaign held
interviews with LGBTI people. Rob, more desirable attitudes regarding Proudly funded by
Gina, Sally, Marlee, Shane and discrimination of people based on sex, The Movember
Annaliese share their personal stories gender and sexuality than those who Foundation
about the discrimination they’ve weren’t.
experienced and how they have
10Desire for social distance to others’. When we look at differences between sexes,
Since 2004, the desire for social distance (i.e. keeping away) it is evident that men are more likely than women to
from people with depression has reduced. There have hold negative views towards people with depression.
been small but significant increases in the proportion of Compared to women, men were more likely to believe that:
people indicating that they would be willing to make friends people with severe depression ‘should pull themselves
with someone with depression and have someone with together’ (31 per cent versus 20 per cent) and ‘have
depression marry into their family. Overall, the findings themselves to blame’ (13 per cent versus 5 per cent).
suggest the vast majority of the population is comfortable
socialising and working with people with depression (see
table 7). beyondblue National Workplace Program
The National Workplace Program (NWP) was
Table 7: What would you do if you found out someone you
established in 2002 to reduce the impact of stigma
met was depressed?
and discrimination and raise awareness of depression
and anxiety in the workplace. Since then, more than
Willing to…* % of responses 81,000 people have attended one of 3,050 workshops
held at 1,010 organisations across Australia. More
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d) than 15,500 people attended workshops in 2012/13.
To expand the reach and effectiveness of beyondblue’s
Go up to them messages in workplaces, e-learning programs have
90 91 91 92
at a party
also been developed. More than 9,000 workplaces
Move next door accessed one or more of these programs in 2012/13.
82 83 86b 84
to them The programs include:
Spend evening • Workplace mental health awareness
91 92 92 94
socialising
• Organisational leadership
Make friends
89 91 93a b 93a • Business in Mind – a program for small to medium
with them
businesses
Have that • Having a conversation – talking to a colleague
person start
you’re concerned about, or discussing your own
working 78 76 81b 80
mental health condition
closely with
you on a job • What would you do? – scenarios to help people
prepare for a conversation about mental health
Have that
person marry • Perspectives – returning to work
63 66 70a b 71a b
into your
• What it’s like – personal stories
family
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
While data trends suggest that beyondblue’s efforts
to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with
depression and anxiety are contributing to changes in
community attitudes, there is also evidence that there is
more work to be done.
In the latest 2012 figures, on average, one in seven people
believes those with severe depression are weak-willed
and one in four believes they should pull themselves
together. This suggests many people still wrongly believe
overcoming depression is simply a case of ‘mind over
matter’. Also of concern is the finding that one in four
believes people with severe depression ‘are dangerous
11Just speak up
Postnatal depression affects one in seven new mothers, while one in 10 pregnant
women experiences antenatal depression. Anxiety is likely to be even more common.
The campaign
Antenatal and postnatal depression
and anxiety continues to be a focus
for beyondblue and one of the primary
ways we reach women in Australia.
The Just speak up campaign is the
culmination of years of beyondblue
research and evidence-gathering
on the prevalence and risk factors
associated with ante- and postnatal
depression and anxiety – and the
impact of not seeking help.
The campaign is aimed at pregnant
women, mothers, their partners and
families. It encourages women to
speak up about their experiences, and
share their story on our website.
The website
Featuring an engaging and fresh new antenatal and postnatal depression Essential Baby and Mamamia
design, the campaign centres around and anxiety, and how they sought 4.5 million times, leading more
the website www.justspeakup.org.au support. than 12,000 people to visit www.
where women and their families can justspeakup.org.au
Women were encouraged to speak up
watch and read the personal stories of about their experiences and to seek
4.5 million
the campaign. support if they were experiencing any
The aim of engaging women and symptoms. The campaign highlighted
their families in speaking up about the need for women to share their
perinatal anxiety and depression is experiences with others to take the digital ads shown online
to de-stigmatise the experience and shame and the sting out of perinatal
anxiety and depression.
in November 2013
provide another layer of support for
women who may be experiencing
adverse mental health conditions
during this life stage.
Phase 2
During Postnatal Depression
12,000+
67,700+
Awareness Week 2013 (17-23 visits to justspeakup.org.au
November), beyondblue relaunched
the Just speak up campaign with new Nov 13–Jan14
branding, a new campaign website, Since the campaign began in 2010
visits to justspeakup.org.au with new Ambassador Em Rusciano there have been over 67,700 website
since November 2010 joining Peter Overton and Jessica visits and more than 320 personal
Rowe as the faces of the campaign. stories have been shared.
Using recognisable ambassadors
Phase 1 achieves the goal of presenting
Phase 1 of the campaign launched
during Postnatal Depression
Awareness Week in November 2010
perinatal anxiety and depression as
something that can happen to anyone,
therefore reducing stigma.
320+
and featured TV, radio and print ads A targeted digital advertising stories shared on
in which mothers and fathers talked campaign showed the advertisements justspeakup.org.au
candidly about their experiences of across the websites Kidspot, Bubhub,
12Improving help seeking
Issue Table 8: Have you ever sought information for depression?
With the right treatment, most people recover from % of responses
depression and anxiety – but they need to seek help.
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
“Everybody accepts and understands that mental illness
is an issue, but I don’t think people are well informed. I
was in contact with a lot of people from all walks of life, Have you
but nobody picked up the signs and symptoms in me, ever sought
35 41a 40a 44 a
and said ‘Mate you’re struggling, I think you need to see information for
a doctor’.” depression?
– Person with depression and anxiety
Table 9: Where did you get this information from?
beyondblue’s work Information % of responses
sources
beyondblue wants people to know: identified 2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009/10 (c) 2012 (d)
• that there are effective treatments for depression and
anxiety, and the earlier people seek help, the sooner
The internet 34 44 a 50a 44 a
they can recover
• where to get help, so they can take the first step towards Ask a GP /
33 33 32 33
getting treatment and getting better doctor
• how to identify depression and anxiety, talk about their Buy a book(s) 17b c d 11d 11d 7
concerns and support people to get the help they need.
beyondblue 1 3a 12a b d 7a b
Depression Monitor data Visit the
10b c d 7 6 6
library
Seeking information
Ask a friend/
Close to half of all Australians have sought information
family 7c 5 4 5
about depression at some point in their lives (see tables member
8 and 9). The most common sources of information about
depression and anxiety are the internet (48 per cent) and Call a
1 3 1 2
General Practitioners (GPs)/doctors (33 per cent). helpline
Women are more likely to have sought information than Contact
men (52 per cent versus 36 per cent). People aged 45 to 54 a mental
6 7d 10a b d 3
years have the highest rates for seeking information (55 health
per cent) and those 65 years and over, the lowest (30 per organisation
cent). Interestingly, men are more likely than women to get
Contact a
their information from the internet (52 per cent versus 46
community or
per cent) or beyondblue (9 per cent versus 6 per cent), while
local health 6 5 6 4
women are more likely than men to get their information centre/
from GPs/doctors (36 per cent versus 29 per cent). organisation
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
13Man Therapy
On average, one in eight men will have depression and one in five men will
experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. Eighty per cent of people who take
their lives are men – with an average of five men dying by suicide every day.
The campaign
beyondblue’s Man Therapy campaign,
launched in June 2013, was developed
to improve men’s wellbeing and
reduce the higher rate of suicide
among men in Australia compared to
women.
Dr Brian Ironwood, the face of
Man Therapy, is a straight-talking,
irreverant man’s man. The campaign
is the first of its kind in Australia,
combining cheeky humour with
serious health messages. Hello, I’m Doctor
MENT NEC MENT NEC MENT NEC
INT ES INT ES INT ES
PO S PO S PO S
AP AP AP
AR
AR
AR
NO
NO
NO
Y
Y
Y
Brian Ironwood
The target audience of Man Therapy
is the 5.5 million men aged 18 to AP
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54 in Australia, in particular young
men aged 18 to 24, fathers aged mantherapy.org.au
25 to 54, men living and working in
urban growth areas, men living and
working in regional and remote areas, Recent figures of monthly traffic to
men who are unemployed, and men Advertising the site in 2014 show an increase in
using alcohol and drugs as coping The humorous Man Therapy ads the number of visitors completing the
mechanisms. appeared in all media including TV, mind quiz to 29 per cent, a significant
The key messaging of the campaign radio, print, social media and online. increase from the previous completion
is: know the signs, know the range rate of 9 per cent.
of treatment options, and develop an Reach
29%
action plan.
Total traffic visiting the site in the
eight months between the launch and
The website February 2014 was 502,814, and, of
those, 401,140 were unique visitors. of visitors complete
The campaign is centred on the
mantherapy.org.au website, where The average time spent on the site is the mind quiz
Dr Brian Ironwood is in his office six minutes 23 seconds. High-profile
or shed and guides visitors through exposure of the campaign reached Social media
activities to assess their wellbeing, an estimated 2.6 million people at it’s
peak. More than 3,300 people are following
offer answers to frequently-asked
@DrBrianIronwood Twitter account
questions about mental health and
and on 27 June 2013 it reached the
2.6 million
provides advice on how to take action
Twitter trending board, indicating that
to deal with anxiety and depression.
it was one of the top 10 topics being
beyondblue’s blueVoices members and discussed on Twitter in Australia.
beyondblue Ambassadors also share people reached
their ‘Tales of triumph’ on the Man
Therapy site. This campaign is funded by the
6m 23sec
Australian government.
500,000+ average time spent on site
visitors to
mantherapy.org.au
14Where do people with depression and anxiety go for What is helpful or unhelpful behaviour when you’re
help? supporting a family member or friend with
When asked who they would be most likely to turn to if depression?
experiencing depression, most participants indicated Most Australians recognise things you can do that are
family and friends, with GPs/doctors coming a somewhat likely to be helpful for someone with depression – for
distant second. Since 2004, the proportion of participants example, in the 2012 survey, over 90 per cent of participants
indicating family/friends has increased by 18 per cent, indicated they would encourage family members or friends
whereas the proportion indicating GPs/doctors has to get professional help, as well as put in place other
decreased by 8 per cent. It may be that over the past strategies that reduce the risk of the person being socially
decade, people have increasingly viewed their families and isolated (see table 11).
friends as having reasonable knowledge and acceptance
of depression, and subsequently likely to be good sources Many people in the community, however, are not aware
of support. Interestingly, the patterns found varied by age. that some things are likely to be unhelpful to someone
Younger adults (those aged 18 to 34) were more likely to with depression – for example, one in three people believes
turn to family members and friends, while older adults it is helpful to ‘keep out of the way’ of a person who is
(aged 55 years and over) were more likely to turn to GPs/ depressed, and one in five believes it is important that the
doctors. person ‘puts on a brave face and pushes on’.
While the Depression Monitor has not collected information Overall, women were more likely than men to recognise
on the use of online health services, data on the use of the unhelpful behaviours, including: ‘keeping out of their way to
beyondblue Support Service suggests that more people are give them some space’ (64 per cent of women versus 53 per
now getting help online and from telephone services. cent of men), and ‘telling them your worries to put their own
problems in perspective’ (77 per cent of women versus 57
Table 10: If you thought you might be suffering from per cent of men). Awareness of beyondblue was associated
depression, who would you most likely turn to? with better knowledge of unhelpful behaviours. Those
aware of beyondblue are significantly more likely to
First mention % of responses recognise that ‘reassuring them that everything will
be better soon’ is generally unhelpful, compared to the
population average (51 per cent versus 41 per cent) with
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
similar (though non-significant) trends evident on all other
items.
Family/friends 47 58a 62a b 65a b
Taken together, this data suggests more Australians
GP/doctor 31b c d 24 23 24 believe that depression should be addressed directly,
rather than ignoring it and hoping it will go away.
Counsellor 2 2 2 3
Psychologist 1 1 2 1 beyondblue website – www.beyondblue.org.au
Psychiatrist 1 1 1 1 beyondblue’s website has always been an important
source of information on depression and anxiety
No one/
for people with these conditions, their friends and
wouldn’t seek 3 2 2 2
families, health professionals and the wider Australian
help
community.
In April 2013, it was re-launched as a ‘one-stop shop’
for information and help on depression and anxiety.
Additional features and content include web chat, access
to online forums, and the option to volunteer or make a
donation.
In the six months after the updated website was
launched (April – October 2013), there were over 1.3
million visits to the site – an increase from 1 million
visits in the six months prior to the relaunch (October
2012 – March 2013).
15Table 11: Interviewer;“I am about to read out a list of Table 12: Interviewer; “I am about to read out a list of
behaviours that some people do when a family member behaviours that some people do when a family member
or close friend is depressed. For each, I would like you to or close friend is depressed. For each, I would like you to
tell me if you think this behaviour is likely to be helpful or tell me if you think this behaviour is likely to be helpful or
unhelpful for the person who is depressed.” unhelpful for the person who is depressed.”
Helpful % of responses Unhelpful % of responses
behaviours behaviours
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
(N=1,596) (N=1,600) (N=1,600) (N=1,028)
Encourage Keep out of
them to focus their way to
91 90 89 91 51 47 54b 59ab
on the positive give them
things in life some space
Include them Take them out
in social to pub for few
93 94 95 94
activities with drinks to help 76 72 78 73
other friends forget about
worries
Spend time
talking Encourage
with them 94 94 97a b 95 them to put on
66 70 68 76a d
about their a brave face
experience and push on
Take them out Tell them
of the house 95 95 96 96 about your
sometimes worries to
66 64 65 68
put their own
Tell them problems in
to get perspective
89 89 91 90
professional
help Reassure them
that everything
33 32 34 41a b
will be better
soon
Suggest that
they go on 33b 28 32 34
stress leave
Providing help to family and friends
Most of the people surveyed indicated that they would
take positive action to support a family member or friend
who was depressed (see table 13). While the proportion
of people indicating they would take positive steps is high
over the four survey periods, there have been significant
increases since 2004 in the proportion indicating they
would suggest family members try to get hold of self-
help materials, and suggest they go to a GP/doctor, or
psychologist or mental health professional.
16Table 13: If you suspected someone in your family, or a • well-trained (7 per cent increase)
close friend, was depressed how likely would you be to • understanding and sympathetic (4 per cent increase)
the following?
• willing to provide or recommend non-drug treatments (7
Likely to… % of responses per cent increase)
• irritated and annoyed (8 per cent decrease)
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
• spending too little time on the problem (7 per cent
decrease)
Suggest they
try to get hold • just giving medications (7 per cent decrease)
69 68 80a b 78a b
of self-help • feeling other people are in more urgent need of medical
materials
treatment (9 per cent decrease).
Suggest they
go to GP/ Table 14: To what extent do you agree or disagree with
doctor or 93 92 95b 96b the following statements: When dealing with depression,
other health GPs...
professional
Agree that % of responses
Assist them GPs…*
to make 2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
90 89 91 90
appointment (N=3,195) (N=1,058) (N=1,048) (N=1,081)
with doctor
Feel irritated or
Suggest 19d 17d 15 11
annoyed
they go to
psychologist Are too busy to
70 75 81a b 80a
or other deal with the 33 33 32 30
mental health problem
professional
Are well trained 36 38 42 43a
Go with them Spend too little
to see a doctor time with the 53d 51 49 46
90 90 92b 88
or health problem
professional
Are
Follow them up understanding
67 71 72a 72a
to make sure and
that they got 90 90 92 93 sympathetic
professional
Just give
help
medication 44d 42 38 37
(e.g pills)
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
Feel other
people are in
Views of General Practitioners (GPs)
more urgent
The 2012 beyondblue Depression Monitor data reveals need of medical 34c d 32d 27 25
some interesting community perceptions of GPs. While treatment than
the majority views GPs as understanding and sympathetic people with
in dealing with depression (72 per cent), relatively large depression
proportions of the community also view them as being too
Are willing
busy to deal with the problem (30 per cent) and spending to provide or
too little time with the problem (46 per cent). Since 2004, recommend 51 58a 52 58a
GPs have been viewed increasingly in a more positive light non-drug
with significant changes in the proportion of Australians treatments
viewing GPs as being:
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
17beyondblue Support Service
beyondblue offers support and information to every person in Australia, regardless
of age, gender, background or location.
The beyondblue Support Service
aims to provide the Australian
population with immediate, short-
term, solutions-focused support and
referral services via a 24/7 telephone
service (1300 22 4636), a web chat
service from 4pm to 10pm each day Call 1300 22 4636 Chat online Email us
(via www.beyondblue.org.au), an email 24 hours a day, 4pm to 10pm (AEST) Get a response in
response service and access to high- 7 days a week 7 days a week 24 hours
quality information about depression,
anxiety and suicide. 2006 (as the beyondblue Info Line), service and, since then, the number
approximately 500,000 people have of calls requiring a component of
This service is provided by Medibank
utilised the service. counselling dramatically increased
Health Solutions and staffed only by
from just over 20 to 80 per cent.
trained mental health professionals. The most popular method of contact
last year was by phone, which Web chat was added to the service in
In 2013, more than 70,000 Australians
comprised 73 per cent of all contact, April 2013, to target men averse to
contacted this service, and of those,
web chat accounted for 19 per cent, contact by telephone, and more than
59 per cent were female, 37 per
and email accounted for 8 per cent. 14,000 people have used this service
cent male and 4 per cent did not
(almost 1,750 a month) without any
disclose their gender. Since the In 2012, beyondblue added short-term,
specific advertising.
Support Service began operation in solutions-focused counselling to its
NewAccess and the
beyondblue Support Service
are proudly funded by
The Movember Foundation.
NewAccess is an early intervention program enabling people to access support
quickly, and intended to provide easily accessible, free and quality services for
Australian adults with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
The program aims to deliver a model who supports the client, tailoring
of support for people who are not a specific program to improve the
currently accessing existing mental person’s mental wellbeing.
health services. This includes ‘hard
NewAccess is funded by The
to reach groups’ such as men and
Movember Foundation and beyondblue.
people in communities where access
to traditional services is often lower. Three Medicare Locals are running
The program is modelled on the a demonstration program from 2013
UK program Improving Access to until 2015 and the service will be
Psychological Therapies. The new subject to full independent evaluation
Australian service will complement by EY (Ernst & Young) commencing
existing mental health services. from day one.
The program uses coaches, trained The first Medicare Local to offer
and clinically supervised by Flinders the service is the Australian Capital
University, to provide relevant and Territory Medicare Local, which
appropriate support. The services commenced services on 8 October
can be face-to-face or via telephone – 2013. Central Adelaide and Hills and
depending on how a person feels most North Coast NSW Medicare Locals
comfortable. The Access Coaches can are commencing services on 24
be compared to a personal trainer February 2014.
18Reducing the impact and disability
of depression and anxiety
Issue Table 15: Have you, or has anyone in your family, ever
experienced depression?
Untreated depression and anxiety can have adverse effects
for decades. Mental health conditions affect families, Experienced % of responses
friends and colleagues, and communities, as well as the depression
individual. 2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
(N=3,200) (N=3,200) (N=3,200) (N=3,200)
“People don’t understand the significance of depression... Overall (either
how serious it is and how dangerous it is.” self, family or 64 64 69a b d 64
both)
– Carer of a person with depression
Self only 13b 9 13b 11
Family
beyondblue’s work member only
32 32 31 32
Reducing the huge impact and disabling effects of Self and family
depression and anxiety is central to beyondblue’s mission. 19 23a 25a 21
member
Our work includes:
• implementing strategies to help prevent people from Table 16: Did you/that family member receive help
developing mental health problems for depression?
• improving the knowledge and ways communities and
Received help % of responses
organisations respond to depression and anxiety in
for depression
general, and people with these conditions in particular
2004 (a) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
• developing, implementing and/or supporting prevention, (N=2,084) (N=2,168) (N=2,250) (N=2,107)
detection and treatment programs across different
settings and environments. Overall (either
self, family or 81 81 86a b 88a b
both)
Depression Monitor data
Self 74 75 79 77
Most Australians (64 per cent) report that they, or
someone in their families, have experienced depression Family 83 83 92a b 91a b
at some point in their lives (see table 15). Women have
Both 81 81 81 87a b c
been consistently more likely to report an experience of
depression in the family compared to men (72 per cent of
women versus 55 per cent of men).
GPs/doctors have been identified consistently as the most
Of those indicating they or someone in their family had been likely source of professional help for those experiencing
depressed, between 80 and 90 per cent indicated they had depression (see table 17). Generally, the sources of help
received help at some stage in their life, with 27 per cent identified were similar across sexes, although in the 2012
indicating that help had been received in the last 12 months survey, men were more likely to indicate that help was
(see table 16). The rates of help-seeking did not vary across provided by clinical psychologists than women (23 per cent
sex or age of respondents, but people who were not aware versus 19 per cent), and women were more likely to indicate
of beyondblue were identified as having lower rates for that help was provided by counsellors (21 per cent versus
receiving help when experiencing depression than the 14 per cent). There has been a significant increase in the
population average (76 per cent versus 88 per cent). proportion of people indicating that they had received
help from GPs/doctors (58 per cent in 2007, compared to
65 per cent in 2012).
19Table 17: Who provided this help to you or family member? Table 18: What prompted you/your family member to
get help?
Help providers % of responses
What prompted % of responses
2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d) getting help?
(N=1,761) (N=1,931) (N=1,799) 2007 (b) 2009 (c) 2012 (d)
(N=1,761) (N=1,931) (N=1,799)
GP/doctor 58 60 65a b
Self awareness/
Clinical recognition of 16 19 28b c
19 21 21
psychologist problem
Counsellor 15 17 18 Help/support/
advice from 27 27 27
Psychiatrist 17 19 17
family member
Family/friends 14 14 12
Symptoms of
3 5 11b c
depression
* NB: Multiple responses permitted
Circumstances/
The most common reasons given for seeking professional issues led to 7 5 10c
help for depression are: getting help
• being able to recognise that there is a problem (28 per Feeling very sad/
cent in 2012 – a significant increase from 16 per cent in couldn’t stop 7 8 9
2007) crying
• receiving advice from a family member (27 per cent in Couldn’t cope/
both 2007 and 2012). function in 14d 12d 8
general
Responses did not vary across sex, except that women
were more likely to identify ‘circumstances/issues led to I wanted to
getting help’ than men (12 per cent versus 7 per cent). This get better/feel 12c d 8 6
data suggests that the community’s increased knowledge normal
of the symptoms of depression is prompting people to Other emotional/
take action to get help. behavioural
symptoms 12d 11d 7
because of
depression
Help/support/
6 6 7
advice from GP
20Conclusion
The Depression Monitor data provides a useful snapshot of
beyondblue’s campaigns, awareness, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour relating to
information and services are depression and anxiety in the Australian community.
Since 2004, the survey has demonstrated that there have
contributing to been some significant improvements in the community’s
understanding and awareness of depression and anxiety,
positive changes
and this is prompting people to take action to get support.
Fewer Australians now hold negative, stigmatising
attitudes towards people with depression and anxiety, and
in the way people respond more people believe that depression should be addressed
directly, rather than ignoring it and hoping it will go away.
to depression and anxiety. The Depression Monitor data suggests that beyondblue’s
campaigns, information and services are contributing to
the positive changes in behaviour and attitudes towards
Significant depression and anxiety, with people who are aware of
beyondblue being more likely to have better knowledge and
understanding of these conditions, hold less stigmatising
improvement views, and get professional help.
beyondblue will continue to work with people with
in the community’s depression and anxiety, their families and friends, as well
as the broader Australian community, to achieve our vision
understanding and awareness of an Australian community that understands depression
and anxiety, empowers people to seek help, and supports
is prompting people to recovery, management and resilience.
take action to
get support.
Fewer Australians
now hold negative,
stigmatising attitudes.
Increasing numbers
of people believe
depression and anxiety
should be addressed directly.
21Where to find more information
beyondblue
www.beyondblue.org.au
Learn more about anxiety and depression, or talk it through with our
support service.
1300 22 4636
Email or chat to us online at www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport
Head to Health
headtohealth.gov.au
Head to Health can help you find free and low-cost, trusted online
and phone mental health resources.
twitter.com/beyondblue
Donate online www.beyondblue.org.au/donations
© Beyond Blue Ltd. BL/1131 02/18You can also read
