An examination of the quality of late-life depression websites on the Internet (Preprint)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teaghan Pryor ◽  
Kristin Reynolds ◽  
Paige Kirby ◽  
Matthew Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Late Life ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Mental Health Information

BACKGROUND The Internet can increase the accessibility of mental health information and improve the mental health literacy of older adults. The quality of mental health information on the Internet can be inaccurate or biased, leading to misinformation OBJECTIVE This study’s objectives were to evaluate the quality, usability, and readability of websites providing information concerning depression in later life. METHODS Websites were identified through a Google search, and evaluated by assessing quality (DISCERN), usability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool; PEMAT) and readability (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook; SMOG). RESULTS The overall quality of late-life depression websites (N = 19) was moderate, usability was low, and readability was poor. No significant relationship was found between quality and readability of websites. CONCLUSIONS Websites can be improved by enhancing information quality, usability, and readability related to late-life depression. The use of high-quality websites may improve mental health literacy and shared treatment decision-making for older adults.

scholarly journals eMental Health Literacy and Psychological Distress as Predictors of Barriers to Mental Health Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 865-866
Author(s):  
Eve Root ◽  
Grace Caskie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Way

Abstract Since the COVID-19 pandemic, psychologists have begun to rely heavily on technology to provide mental health information and services (APA, 2020). As the older adult population increases, the number of older adults in need of mental health services also increases; however, little is known about the way older adults might utilize technology to inform mental health-related decisions. This study expands on the construct of eHealth Literacy by examining eMental Health Literacy, which is defined as the degree to which individuals seek, find, understand, and appraise basic mental health information and services online that are needed to inform mental health-related decisions. A sample of 244 older adults (M=68.34, range=65-82 years) were recruited online through Amazon Mechanical Turk. A structural equation model was estimated specifying eMental Health Literacy and psychological distress as predictors of extrinsic and intrinsic barriers to mental health services. After adding three correlated errors, the model achieved good fit (χ2(110)=329.20, p<.001, SRMR=.08, CFI=.93, TLI=.91, GFI=.86, RMSEA=.09). All indicators were significantly related to their latent construct (p<.001). The results indicated that, controlling for psychological distress, higher eMental health literacy was significantly related to fewer reported intrinsic (b=-.386, p<.001) and extrinsic barriers (b=-.315, p<.001) to mental health services. Higher distress was also significantly related to more intrinsic (b=.537, p<.001) and extrinsic barriers (b=.645, p<.001) to mental health services. These findings suggest that, as we move towards a more digital world, eMental health literacy could play a significant role in the way older adults navigate through the mental healthcare system.

scholarly journals Determinants for undetected dementia and late-life depression

2013 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoling Chen ◽  
Zhi Hu ◽  
Ruo-Li Chen ◽  
Ying Ma ◽  
Dongmei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
Low Levels

BackgroundDeterminants for undetected dementia and late-life depression have been not well studied.AimsTo investigate risk factors for undetected dementia and depression in older communities.MethodUsing the method of the 10/66 algorithm, we interviewed a random sample of 7072 participants aged ⩽60 years in six provinces of China during 2007–2011. We documented doctor-diagnosed dementia and depression in the interview. Using the validated 10/66 algorithm we diagnosed dementia (n= 359) and depression (n= 328).ResultsWe found that 93.1% of dementia and 92.5% of depression was undetected. Both undetected dementia and depression were significantly associated with low levels of education and occupation, and living in a rural area. The risk of undetected dementia was also associated with ‘help available when needed‘, and inversely, with a family history of mental illness and having functional impairment. Undetected depression was significantly related to female gender, low income, having more children and inversely with having heart disease.ConclusionsOlder adults in China have high levels of undetected dementia and depression. General socioeconomic improvement, associated with mental health education, targeting high-risk populations are likely to increase detection of dementia and depression in older adults, providing a backdrop for culturally acceptable service development.

The role social diversity plays in enhancing mental health literacy among the elderly

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsahi Hayat ◽  
Ora Nakash ◽  
Sarah Abu Kaf ◽  
Michal Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
The Social

PurposeMental health literacy (MHL) is the ability to understand health information originating from different sources. Little is known about ethnic differences in sources for health information, and the effect these differences has on elderly MHL. In this paper, we focus on the social networks (i.e. social connections) of elderly people from different ethnic groups, and investigate the effect these networks have on MHL. Specifically, we focus on the ethnic diversity of one's peers (ethnic diversity) as a network characteristic that can interplay with his\her MHL.Design/methodology/approachThe data used in this study were gathered using a survey among elderly (over the age of 60) Native Israeli Jews (N = 147) and Immigrant Jews from the Former Soviet Union (FSU, N = 131). The survey was used to assess our participants MHL, online and offline sources of mental health information and mental health service utilization. Interviews were also conducted with each participant. The interview purpose was to map the participants' social network (using a sociogram), while indicating the attributes of the participant's peers (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and the nature of the interaction (online vs. offline, strength of the tie, etc.). A set of hierarchal regression analyses were then used to examine which social network attributes are correlated with MHL levels.FindingsOur findings shows that ethnic diversity within the social networks of Immigrants from the FSU contributed to their MHL more so than for native-born Jews. Specifically, face to face maintained connections with individuals from diverse ethnic groups lead to increased knowledge about how to search for mental health information. Online maintained connections with individuals from diverse ethnic groups, lead to increase attitudes that promote recognition of mental health related issues and appropriate help-seeking.Originality/valueUnderstanding the interplay between the ethnic diversity among one's peers and his/her MHL offers an important additional prism of examining MHL; moving beyond the individual's characteristics and examining his/her social connections as well. The relevancy of these findings for reducing MHL inequalities between native-born and elderly migrants, as well as for ethnic minorities is discussed.

Mental health literacy as a mediator in use of mental health services among older korean adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Sun Kim ◽  
T. Greg Rhee ◽  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
Byung Hyun Park ◽  
Monica L. Sharratt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Services Utilization ◽  
Mental Health Services Utilization

ABSTRACTBackground:Existing literature suggests that mental health literacy is positively associated with mental health services utilization. Despite an aging population that faces significant mental health concerns in Korea, the role of mental health literacy on mental health services utilization is not known among older adults in Korea. This study aimed to (1) identify whether mental health literacy mediates the association between population characteristics and mental health services utilization and (2) identify an optimal path model for mental health services utilization among Korean older adults.Methods:Using a cross-sectional survey with a quota sampling strategy, we collected and analyzed responses from 596 community-dwelling individuals ages 65 years and older. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to estimate the effect of mental health literacy as a mediator.Results:When controlling for other relevant covariates in the optimal path model, mental health literacy mediated the relationships between three socio-demographic factors (education, general literacy, and health status) and mental health services utilization. The model fit index shows that the SEM fits very well (CFI = 0.92, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07).Conclusions:Efforts to improve mental health literacy through community-based education programs may need to particularly target Korean older adults with the relevant socio-demographic characteristics to enhance their utilization of appropriate mental health services.

scholarly journals Quality of the Mental Health Information System in a Specialized Mental Hospital in Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Nazmun Nuri ◽  
Malabika Sarker ◽  
Helal Ahmed ◽  
Mohammad Hossain ◽  
Fekri Dureab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information System ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mental Hospital ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
Mental Health Information System
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