O-15 Exploring the Influence of Gender and Race on Adolescent Mental Health and Help-seeking in Bermuda

Methods: A total of 2,392 adolescents, aged 10-18 years, attending middle and secondary education in Bermuda completed an online survey during the 2022-2023 academic Year. All 15 eligible middle and high schools in Bermuda agreed to be host sites. Opt-out parental consent and student assent was used. The survey sought information about students’ demographic characteristics, depression and anxiety symptoms and their help-seeking intentions. Participants were presented with one of two vignettes depicting a fictional peer with symptoms of either depression or social anxiety. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were asked via the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder – 7 (GAD-7), where scores of 10+ were interpreted as having depression/anxiety symptoms present. Help-seeking intentions were assessed by responding to whether they would seek help for the problem in the vignette (Yes / No / Not sure).

Results: Compare to White males, Black males and females, white females, and minority females were each associated with a higher prevalence of moderate to severe depression/ anxiety symptoms; OR (Black Male) = 1.42 (99% CI [0.91, 2.22)]), OR (White Female) = 2.30 (99% CI [1.45, 3.65]) OR (Black Female) = 3.23 (99% CI [2.14, 4.87]) and OR (Minority Female) = 4.61 (99% CI [2.95, 7.19]). Being a white female, black female and minority female were each associated with a lower intention to seek help; OR (White Female) = 0.61 (99% CI [0.41, 0.92]), OR (Black Female) = 0.68 (99% CI [0.48, 0.97]) and OR (Minority Female) = 0.53 (99% CI [0.36, 0.79]).

Conclusion: Black and minority-race females have both the greatest need of support and the lowest help-seeking intentions. Interventions focusing on prevention, early intervention and improving help-seeking must focus on minority females.