Demographics
A total of 1000 subjects (500 patients with depression and 500 healthy subjects) were sampled by controlling the age distribution and sex ratio of each group to reflect the Japanese population, excluding 86 subjects (7.9%) who provided fraudulent responses. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 41.4 (10.5) years in the patient group and 41.4 (10.6) years in the healthy subject group. Both groups were comprised of 254 males and 246 females (50.8% and 49.2%, respectively).
Questions about perception of current healthcare systems and knowledge of mental illness
Table 2 shows the results. Q1 asked, “When you have a mental health problem, such as anxiety, depressive mood, distress, etc., can you think of a service where you would feel comfortable discussing mental health problems?” In the patient group, 30.8% answered “yes” and 69.2% answered “no” to this question. In the healthy subject group, 6.2% answered “yes” and 93.8% answered “no.” Q2 asked, “Do you think the current system provides you with early access to consultation and support services when you have mental health problems or develop a mental illness?” In the patient group, 10.2% answered “yes,” 47.4% answered “not sure,” and 42.4% answered “no” to this question. In the healthy subject group, 2.8% answered “yes,” 66.2% answered “not sure,” and 31.0% answered “no.” Q3 asked, “Have you ever heard that about one in five people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime?” In the patient group, 28.4% answered “yes” and 71.6% answered “no” to this question. In the healthy subject group, 9.6% answered “yes” and 90.4% answered “no.” Q4 asked, “Have you ever heard that about 70% of mental illnesses occur in people before 25 years old?” In the patient group, 12.4% answered “yes” and 87.6% answered “no” to this question. In the healthy subject group, 5.4% answered “yes” and 94.6% answered “no.”
Table 2 about here
Questions about needs for future community-based integrated mental health systems
Q5 asked, “Please select the targets that you think should be a particular focus of national policy regarding mental health and illness (multiple responses allowed).” Figure 1 shows the results. In both groups, the most frequent response was “adolescents and young adults.” In the patient group and the healthy subject group, the respective percentages of responses were as follows: (1) children: 40.6% and 39.8%, (2) adolescents and young adults: 67.2% and 58.6%, (3) middle-aged adults: 55.4% and 38.4%, (4) elderly adults: 34.0% and 28.0%, (5) pregnant and nursing women: 40.0% and 31.0%, (6) foreign residents: 17.6% and 11.4%, and (7) not sure: 21.4% and 29.4%.
Q6 asked, “Please select the services that you think should be implemented in community-based integrated mental health systems that would enable people with mental illnesses to live their own lives with peace of mind as members of the community (multiple responses allowed).” Table 3 shows the results. In both groups, the most frequent response was “promotion and awareness of correct knowledge of mental illness.” The second most frequent response in the healthy subject group was “preventive support for mental health problems before the onset of mental illness,” and the second most frequent response in the patient group was “employment support for people with mental illness.” The third most frequent responses in the patient group were “preventive support for mental health problems before the onset of illness” and “support for people in the early years after illness onset” (same response rate), and the third most frequent response in the healthy subject group was “support for families of people with mental illness.” In the patient group and the healthy subject group, the respective percentages of responses were as follows: (1) promotion and awareness of correct knowledge of mental illness: 65.4% and 51.4%, (2) preventive support for mental health problems before the onset of illness: 50.6% and 36.2%, (3) support for people in the early years after illness onset: 50.6% and 32.4%, (4) securement of housing for people with mental illness: 37.8% and 23.2%, (5) employment support for people with mental illness: 59.8% and 33.6%, (6) home visitation support (outreach) for people with mental illness: 26.4% and 21.0%, (7) support for families of people with mental illness: 48.2% and 34.2%, (8) support for people with mental illness who are at risk of self-injury or violence: 44.2% and 27.4%, (9) support after hospital discharge for people who have been hospitalized for a long time: 28.0% and 18.2%, (10) support from peer staff: 28.0% and 17.6%, and (11) not sure: 15.4% and 33.2%.
Figure 1 and Table 3 about here