Who comes to a self-help depression prevention website? Characteristics of Spanish- and English-speaking visitors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic and clinical characteristics of Spanish- and English-speaking visitors to a "Healthy Mood" website. METHODS: An online study intended to prevent depression by teaching users mood management skills recruited participants globally using primarily Google Ads. Those who consented responded to the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the MDE Screener (Muñoz, 1998) upon entry into the study. RESULTS: 1423 participants consented, 437 English speakers and 986 Spanish speakers. Of the 1271 participants with sufficient depression symptom data, 65% screened positive for a current major depressive episode, 30% were at high risk for onset of a major depressive episode, and 5% were in the low-risk category. CONCLUSION: Websites intended to be preventive appear to attract primarily individuals who are currently experiencing enough symptoms to screen positive for a major depressive episode. Only 30% of participants were appropriate for a depression prevention intervention. Therefore, such sites must be ready to encourage those with current depression to obtain professional help as well as ensure that the online self-help interventions are appropriate for participants who could benefit from both preventive and treatment interventions.

Association Between Treatment Seeking and Personal Knowledge of Others With Emotional or Mental Problems.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether people who screened positive for depression were more likely to have sought treatment if they had personal knowledge of other individuals with emotional or mental problems or of individuals who have sought treatment for them. METHODS: Participants who screened positive for current major depression (N=239) via an Internet-based depression screening study completed an online survey about seeking treatment for depression. RESULTS: After the authors controlled for social support, stigma, and demographic variables, analyses showed that individuals who personally knew someone with emotional or mental problems either within or outside of their family were more likely to themselves have sought treatment for depression. The same was true for those who personally knew someone-again either within or outside of their family-who had sought treatment for emotional or mental problems. CONCLUSIONS: Personal knowledge of others with emotional problems or who had sought treatment for them may play a role in decisions about one's own treatment.