Quality of helping intention of adolescent toward peers with depressive symptoms in Kuching Division of Sarawak

Muhammad Najib, Hasan @ Ahmad (2020) Quality of helping intention of adolescent toward peers with depressive symptoms in Kuching Division of Sarawak. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

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Abstract

Background: Mental health issue primarily related to depression among adolescents, is worrying because it may lead to serious complications such as suicide. When suffering from depression, a friend is one source of help for an adolescent. Therefore, helping response of adolescent who provides first-hand assistance toward the depressed teenager need an evaluation. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the quality of helping intention of the adolescent in the Kuching Division of Sarawak toward their peers who suffered from depressive symptoms and their association with age, gender, previous history with mental health patient, spiritual level, confidence level, stigma and knowledge of mental health. Method: During 2020, a total of 589 adolescents age 12 to 19 years old in the Kuching Division of Sarawak participate in a cross-sectional study. A set of questionnaires with a vignette portraying a friend who suffered from depression with suicidal ideation was given to the adolescents to answer. Logistic and linear regression models were used to examine predictors of the helping intention. Result: The quality of helping responses among adolescents was still inadequate. The most common helping intention among adolescents was that they would listen to their friends' problems, advise them what to do, help them to connect with adults, and not talking about suicide. Those who had low social distance scale scores, rural adolescents and adolescents with previous experience with a patient with mental health problem showed better helping intention. Conclusions: Adolescents were willing to help their friends with depression. However, the quality of help that they recommended was still inadequate. Factors such as gender, stigma, age of the adolescent, confidence level, and knowledge on mental health first aid should be considered when planning an intervention program.

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