Help-Seeking for Emotional Problems in Major Depression

To study help-seeking among the general population and people with major depression. 12-month help-seeking for emotional problems
was assessed in a cross-sectional 2006 Estonian Health Survey. Non-institutionalized individuals aged 18–84 years (n = 6,105)
were interviewed. A major depressive episode was assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The factors
associated with help-seeking, received help, and health service use were analyzed. The prevalence of 12-month help-seeking
for emotional symptoms was 4.8%. The rate of 12-month help-seeking in the depressed sample was 34.1%. Depressed people used
non-mental health services 1.5–3 times more than non-depressed persons even when adjusted for the chronic somatic disorder.
Only one third of depressed persons sought help, which was most of all associated with severity of depression. Underdiagnosis
and undertreatment of depression leads to an increased use of expensive but non-specific health services by depressed persons.