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Table 2 Frequency (n) of respondents citing disadvantages of seeking support for depression from family and friends

From: Seeking help for depression from family and friends: A qualitative analysis of perceived advantages and disadvantages

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)

  1. *Numerals in brackets refer to number of participants citing type of disadvantage.