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Table 4 Undergraduates’ treatment beliefs using expert opinion as a benchmark for comparison

From: Depression literacy of undergraduates in a non-western developing context: the case of Sri Lanka

Help-provider/intervention

Undergraduates (N = 4502–4651)

Mental health experts (N = 28–37)

Option rated as ‘Helpful’

Option rated as ‘Unhelpful’

Option rated as ‘Helpful’

Option rated as ‘Unhelpful’

% (95 % CI)

% (95 % CI)

% (95 % CI)

% (95 % CI)

Professional/formal options recommended by experts

 Psychiatrist

88.9 (88.0–89.8)

2.4 (2.0–2.9)

100 (100–100)

0 (0–0)

 Psychologist

66.7a (65.3–68.0)

7.0 (6.3–7.7)

100 (100–100)

0 (0–0)

 Counsellor

90.7 (89.9–91.5)

1.8 (1.4–2.2)

89.2 (78.7–99.7)

2.7 (0–8.2)

 University student counsellor

75.3 (74.1–76.6)

5.3 (4.7–6.0)

75.0 (60.1–89.9)

2.8 (0–8.4)

 Mental health professional at University Psychiatry Unit

70.5b (69.2–71.8)

6.2 (5.5–6.9)

100.0 (100–100)

0 (0–0)

 University Medical Officer

51.0a (49.6–52.5)

11.3 (10.4–12.3)

88.9 (78.1–99.7)

2.8 (0–8.4)

 Organisation helping people to deal with problems

48.7a (47.3–50.2)

12.6 (11.6–13.5)

83.3 (70.5–96.1)

2.8 (0–8.4)

 Get counselling or psychological therapy

88.5 (87.6–89.4)

2.2 (1.8–2.6)

100 (100–100)

0 (0–0)

 Take western medicine to improve mood

29.0a (27.7–30.3)

26.8b (25.5–28.0)

97.1 (91.3–100)

0 (0–0)

Informal options recommended by experts

 Parents

93.0 (92.3–93.7)

1.6 (1.2–2.0)

78.4 (64.5–92.3)

10.8 (0.3–21.3)

 Friend from University

91.6 (90.8–92.4)

1.3 (1.0–1.6)

88.6 (77.5–99.7)

2.9 (0–8.7)

 Boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse

87.6 (86.7–88.6)

1.7 (1.3–2.1)

83.8 (71.3–96.2)

2.7 (0–8.2)

 Do enjoyed activities

97.0 (96.5–97.5)

0.8 (0.5–1.0)

94.1 (85.8–100)

0 (0–0)

 Meditation, yoga and relaxation exercises

93.5 (92.8–94.2)

1.8 (1.4–2.2)

80.0 (66.1–93.9)

5.7 (0–13.8)

 Become more active

92.0 (91.3–92.8)

2.1 (1.7–2.5)

85.3 (72.8–97.8)

5.9 (0–14.2)

 Physical exercise

85.6 (84.6–86.6)

2.7 (2.2–3.2)

82.9 (69.7–96.0)

0 (0–0)

 Talk to others who have faced similar problems

76.5 (75.3–77.8)

7.2 (6.5–8.0)

85.7 (73.5–97.9)

5.7 (0–13.8)

 Cut down use of alcohol/cigarettes/drugs

76.5 (75.3–77.8)

6.1 (5.4–6.7)

94.1 (85.8–100)

2.9 (0–8.9)

 Improve sleeping habits

74.3 (73.1–75.6)

8.2 (7.4–9.0)

85.7 (73.5–97.9)

0 (0–0)

 Get information from internet about dealing with problem

41.4a (40.0–42.8)

19.3 (18.2–20.5)

80.0 (66.1–93.9)

0 (0–0)

Options identified as ‘unhelpful’ by experts

 Deal with problem alone

17.3 (16.2–18.4)

62.8b (61.4–64.2)

0 (0–0)

86.1 (74.2–98.0)

 Stop going to university

6.4 (5.7–7.1)

78.9 (77.7–80.1)

2.9 (0–8.7)

91.4 (81.7–100)

 Use alcohol/cigarettes/drugs

1.8 (1.4–2.1)

90.2 (89.4–91.1)

0 (0–0)

94.3 (86.2–100)

Options not recommended by experts but rated as ‘helpful’ by ≥75 % of undergraduates

 Clergy/religious priest

81.1b (80.0–82.3)

4.0 (3.4–4.6)

54.3 (36.9–71.6)

17.1 (4.0–30.3)

 Perform religious activities

92.9b (92.2–93.7)

1.6 (1.3–2.0)

63.6 (46.3–81.0)

6.1 (0–14.7)

  1. aWhere difference in rating between undergraduates and mental health experts is at least a large effect size (≥30 %)
  2. bWhere difference in rating between undergraduates and mental health experts is at least a medium effect size (≥18 %)