中華心理衛生協會

In Taiwan, depression research focuses more on the medical treatment, and less on help-seeking behavior among general public. Ten thousand eight hundred and eighty two adults were purposively sampled from four geographic regions: Taipei area, Taizhong area, Kaohsjung area and eastern area of Taiwan. The final valid sample included 7888 subjects with a response rate of 72.48%. The results of the study are the followings: (1) Among the valid samples. 11.74% of them were assessed to reach the degree of clinical depression: (2) At the time of depressed, the highest percentage of the valid samples choose to ignore it, take more time to rest, do more physical exercises. In the order of preference among the outside helpers, they would seek help from the internists and general practitioners of the Western medicine, the Chinese medicine practitioners, the mental health professionals, and the folk treatment providers; (3) When feeling depressed, most of valid samples would seek the help of friends and religious organizations, even the severe depressed subjects also regard the non-mental health providers as their preferred helpers. 4. In comparison to less severe ones, the more severe depressed subjects tend to seek help from Western medical treatment and also from folk treatment.