Mental health literacy in black South African communities

Abstract

This study explored conceptualisation of the aetiology and treatment of depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol use disorder among black communities in South Africa. Utilising a cross-sectional design, we surveyed 240 black African community adult members (female = 122, male = 118; aged 18–35 years) about their understanding of vignettes from The Attitudes and Beliefs About Mental Health Problems: Professional and Public Views Questionnaire (Jorm et al. 1997). Findings indicated that the community members employed broad, all-encompassing phrases in relation to respective contexts to conceptualise these conditions rather than standard psychological terminology. While the participants conceptualised depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol use disorder as psychological problems, few responses conceptualised schizophrenia from a traditional indigenous perspective. Participants attributed depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol use disorder to psychological causes and endorsed professional help-seeking for these mental disorders, and alternative traditional treatment methods for schizophrenia. These findings support the cultural basis of the conceptualisation of mental illness and the treatment approach among the black African communities.