Depression-Related Distress in Mauritian and South African Adolescent Girls

An Exploratory Investigation

Bibliographic Data

ID13655583
AuthorsAnthony L Pillay (0000-0001-8812-163X, University of KwaZulu-Natal, corresponding author), Harshalini Y Bundhoo (University of Mauritius), Uma Bhowon (University of Mauritius)
Year2010
Volume107
Issue1
Pages87-94
Publication date2010-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2466/02.10.12.13.pr0.107.4.87-94
PMID20923052
OpenAlexW1993545402
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited13

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated

Depression (economics · Distress · Environmental health · Exploratory research · Feeling · Harm · Mental health · Population · Psychiatry · Socioeconomic status · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies