Table 3.
Perceived helpfulness of interventions for depression with suicidal thoughts vignette (n = 281)
| Intervention | Helpful | Harmful | Neither | Most helpfula |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatments and activities | ||||
| Getting information about the problem and available services | 90.6 | 0.7 | 8.6 | 13.6 |
| Psychotherapy focusing on changing thoughts and behaviours (cognitive behaviour therapy) | 80.4 | 1.1 | 18.5 | 38.6 |
| Reading the Koran or Bible | 79.9 | 2.2 | 17.9 | 8.3 |
| Getting out and about more/finding some new hobbies | 70.4 | 2.2 | 27.4 | 0.8 |
| Psychotherapy focusing on relationships with others | 68.0 | 2.5 | 29.5 | 4.5 |
| Psychotherapy focusing on causes that stem from the past | 66.5 | 2.2 | 31.2 | 12.9 |
| Relaxation (e.g. having a massage) | 64.0 | 2.2 | 33.8 | 2.3 |
| Just talking about the problem (e.g. to a family member or close friend) | 62.9 | 5.8 | 31.3 | 5.3 |
| Have a prayer session or reading with a religious leader | 60.4 | 2.9 | 36.7 | 0.8 |
| Improving diet and/or getting more exercise | 55.4 | 1.8 | 42.8 | 1.5 |
| Reading a self-help book | 46.1 | 3.7 | 50.2 | 0.8 |
| Admission to a psychiatric hospital | 36.6 | 10.1 | 53.3 | 7.6 |
| Hypnosis | 25.0 | 6.7 | 68.3 | 0.0 |
| Traditional therapies (e.g. herbs, honey, black cumin seed, olive oil, dates, cupping - Hijama) | 18.3 | 8.6 | 73.1 | 1.5 |
| Trying to deal with the problem on her own | 15.2 | 34.9 | 49.8 | 1.5 |
| Drinking alcohol to relax | 7.6 | 69.8 | 22.7 | 0.0 |
| Medicine Type | ||||
| Anti-depressant medication (e.g. Prozac) | 79.6 | 3.3 | 17.1 | 73.7 |
| Medication to help you relax (e.g. Xanax, Valium) | 54.5 | 8.7 | 36.7 | 12.8 |
| Vitamins and minerals (e.g. Vitamin C) | 48.0 | 1.8 | 50.2 | 13.5 |
| Person/Service | ||||
| Psychologist | 80.7 | 0.7 | 18.5 | 22.4 |
| Psychiatrist | 78.2 | 2.5 | 19.3 | 43.3 |
| Community mental health worker/team (e.g. social worker, mental health nurse) | 77.1 | 1.8 | 21.1 | 6.0 |
| Family member | 70.2 | 0.4 | 29.5 | 7.5 |
| Religious person or priest | 68.8 | 0.7 | 30.4 | 8.2 |
| Homeland social group/club | 63.1 | 3.0 | 33.9 | 3.0 |
| Close male friend | 56.9 | 1.1 | 42.0 | 3.0 |
| Family or local doctor | 56.3 | 1.1 | 42.6 | 3.7 |
| Community religious organization | 50.0 | 2.2 | 47.8 | 1.5 |
| Telephone counseling | 37.9 | 5.5 | 56.6 | 0.0 |
| Close female friend | 34.8 | 2.9 | 62.3 | 1.5 |
aPercentage of sample rating the specific intervention item as ‘the most helpful’ for treating problem described in vignette