Mental Health Literacy in Cancer Outpatients in Singapore

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and mental health literacy (MHL) in outpatients with or without cancer in Singapore. METHODS: Oncology outpatients and outpatients without cancer (controls) were assessed for severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms (using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and MHL regarding major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder in terms of diagnosis, aetiology, treatment, and attitudes toward mental health services. RESULTS: A total of 89 oncology outpatients and 61 controls were recruited. Those with primary and secondary education had significantly lower MHL scores than those with university education (p = 0.001). Oncology outpatients and controls were comparable in terms of anxiety (13.5% vs 9.8%, p = 0.5), depression (2.2% vs 1.6%, p > 0.99), and total MHL score (7.94 vs 9.13, p = 0.102). CONCLUSIONS: MHL is comparable between oncology outpatients and controls and is positively associated with education level.