'Pull yourself together' - survey's depression misconceptions

An Australian survey has revealed common misconceptions of depression. Photo / Thinkstock

Depressed people should just pull themselves together, put on a brave face and drown their sorrows in a stiff drink.

These are some of the misconceptions that continue to surround depression, a survey by the Australian depression initiate beyondblue has found.

beyondblue CEO Kate Carnell AO says despite improvements in raising awareness, a recent Depression Monitor survey in New South Wales showed many people were still misinformed about depression and how they could help someone suffering from the illness.

"It seems that many people still don't know depression is an illness which needs and responds to treatment, and still don't know how to help themselves or someone else who may be struggling," she said in a statement.

"This indicates we need to work harder to make people more aware of the signs and symptoms of depression."

But there was some good news, she said.

While 63 per cent of survey respondents or their family members had experienced depression, 85 per cent of them had sought professional help.

Findings of the beyondblue 2011-12 Depression Monitor

* 62 per cent wrongly believe antidepressant medication is addictive

* 34 per cent wrongly think people with severe depression should pull themselves together

* 25 per cent wrongly think it would be helpful to take a person with depression to the pub for a few drinks to help them forget their worries

* 19 per cent wrongly think it would be helpful to tell a depressed person to put on a brave face and push on

* 14 per cent wrongly think people with severe depression are weak-willed

- AAP