Table 2.
Frequency (n) of respondents citing disadvantages of seeking support for depression from family and friends
| Categories and subcategories | n | Coded Types |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stigma | 53 | |
| Stigmatising responses | 37 | 'Get over it' (n = 16), query/minimise illness (5)*, contempt/scorn/vilification (3), ridicule (1), criticism (2), self-pity (2), selfish (1), attention seeking (1), whinger (1), weak (1), to blame (1), undermine (1), pity (2). |
| Anticipated stigma from family/friend | 11 | Fear of being: judged (3), losing respect (2), pitied (1), rejected (1); fear of what others were thinking (2) |
| Self stigma | 7 | Feeling: burden to others (4), embarrassment (1), shame (1) |
| 2. Provided inappropriate/inadequate support | 45 | |
| Insufficient support | 30 | Informal sources: lack emotional understanding (14), dismiss illness (9), lack interest/care (6), lack sympathy (3), egocentric responses (2), ignore (1) |
| Decreased self-esteem | 6 | Sense of: inadequacy (4), worthlessness (2), uselessness (1), dependency (1) |
| Over-involvement | 5 | Too much advice (3), boundary problems (1), worrying excessively (1) |
| Lack of confidentiality | 5 | Confidentiality breach (5) |
| 3. Lacked knowledge, training, expertise | 32 | Lack of: understanding of depression (12), professional knowledge/training (12), knowledge about helpful actions (5), experiential knowledge (3), objectivity (3) |
| 4. Adversely affected family/friends | 20 | Burden on family/friend (7); cause family: stress (4), concern (3), frustration (3), self-esteem problems (3), negative affect (3), upset (2), confusion (1) |
| 5. Adverse change in relationship | 18 | Relationship: altered (10), lost (or in danger of being lost) (5), overly supportive (1), unbalanced (1), strained (5). |
| 6. Negative personal attributes | 10 | Judgmental attitudes (6), lack of objectivity (6) |
| 7. Unhelpful/harmful | 14 | |
| 8. Accessibility problems | 6 | Lack of separation (2), could not fully confide (2), geographically inaccessible (1), preoccupied with own burden (1) |
| 9. Other | 53 | Increased consumer vulnerability (8), family/friend own agenda (6), pre-existing opinions; (4), fear family/friend will lack patience (5), trusting others undesirable (2), self disclosure stressful (2), negative consequences if fail to respond to help (1) |
*Numerals in brackets refer to number of participants citing type of disadvantage.