Community Knowledge of Mental Illness and Reaction to Mentally Ill People

1996 ◽  
Vol 168 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Wolff ◽  
Soumitra Pathare ◽  
Jom Craig ◽  
Julian Leff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Ethnic Origin ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Attitudinal Factors ◽  
Lower Social Class ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

BackgroundWe test the hypothesis that negative attitudes to mentally ill people may be fuelled by a lack of knowledge.MethodA census of knowledge of mental illness was conducted in two areas prior to the opening of long-stay supported houses for the mentally ill in each area. Three attitudinal factors (Fear and Exclusion, Social Control and Goodwill) which had been extracted by factor analysis of the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally III (CAMI) inventory (see previous paper) were analysed in respect of their associations with knowledge of mental illness.ResultsMost respondents (80%) knew of somebody who had a mental illness but a substantial proportion of respondents had little knowledge about mental illness. Social Control showed an association with knowledge of mental illness. Groups who showed more socially controlling attitudes (especially those over 50 years old, those of lower social class, and those of non-Caucasian ethnic origin) had less knowledge about mental illness. Regression analysis revealed that when knowledge was taken into account age had no effect on Social Control, and the effect of social class and ethnic origin was diminished Respondents with children, who showed more Fear and Exclusion, were not less knowledgeable about mental illness.ConclusionsThe results support the hypothesis that negative attitudes, especially in older people, are fuelled by a lack of knowledge. Negative attitudes among people with children are not related to a lack of knowledge.

Community Attitudes to Mental Illness

1996 ◽  
Vol 168 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Wolff ◽  
Soumitra Pathare ◽  
Tom Craig ◽  
Julian Leff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Ethnic Origin ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Main Determinant ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Public Education Campaign ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
Changing Attitudes

BackgroundThe baseline findings from a controlled study of the effect of a public education campaign on community attitudes to mental illness are presented.MethodA census of attitudes to mental illness was conducted in two areas, prior to the opening of supported houses for the mentally ill Factor analysis of the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally III (CAMI) inventory revealed three components: Fear and Exclusion, Social Control and Goodwill.ResultsThe only determinant of Fear and Exclusion was having children. The main determinants of Social Control were social class, ethnic origin, age, having suffered mental illness and having children. The main determinant of Goodwill was educational level The attitude factors were predictive of respondents' behavioural intentions toward the mentally ill. Respondents with children and non-Caucasians were more likely to object to the mentally ill living in their neighbourhood.ConclusionsAny intervention aimed at changing attitudes to mentally ill people in the community should be targeted at people with children and non-Caucasians, as these groups are more likely to object.

Muslim mass shooters are perceived as less mentally ill and more motivated by religion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Gregory Mercier ◽  
Azim Shariff ◽  
Adam Norris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
News Article ◽  
Mass Shootings ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Extremist Groups

Objective: We test whether prejudice can influence lay attributions of mental illness to perpetrators of violence. Specifically, we examine whether people with negative attitudes towards Muslims perceive Muslim mass shooters as less mentally ill than non-Muslim shooters. Method: Study 1 compares attributions of mental illness to Muslim and non-Muslim perpetrators of recent mass shootings. Studies 2 and 3 experimentally test whether a mass shooter described in a news article is seen as less mentally ill when described as being a Muslim, compared to when described as a Christian (Study 2) and to when religion is not mentioned (Study 3). Study 4 tests whether a Muslim shooter is seen as less mentally ill than a Christian shooter, even when both shooters have symptoms of mental illness. Results: In all studies, Muslim shooters were seen as less mentally ill than non-Muslim shooters, but only by those with negative views towards Muslims. Conclusion: Those with anti-Muslim prejudices perceive Muslim mass shooters as less mentally ill, likely to maintain culpability and fit narratives about terrorism. This may reinforce anti-Muslim attitudes by leading those with anti-Muslim prejudice to overestimate the amount of violence inspired by groups like ISIS relative to extremist groups from other ideologies.

scholarly journals Public attitudes towards people with mental illness in England and Scotland, 1994–2003

2009 ◽  
Vol 194 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Mehta ◽  
Aliya Kassam ◽  
Morven Leese ◽  
Georgia Butler ◽  
Graham Thornicroft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Health Attitudes ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Quota Sampling

BackgroundUnderstanding trends in public attitudes towards people with mental illness informs the assessment of ongoing severity of stigma and evaluation of anti-stigma campaigns.AimsTo analyse trends in public attitudes towards people with mental illness in England and Scotland using Department of Health Attitudes to Mental Illness Surveys, 1994–2003.MethodWe analysed trends in attitudes for 2000 respondents in each survey year (6000 respondents in 1996 and 1997) using quota sampling methods and the adapted Community Attitudes Toward the Mentally Ill scale.ResultsComparing 2000 and 2003, there was significant deterioration for 17/25 items in England and for 4/25 items in Scotland. Neither country showed significant improvements in items between 2000 and 2003.ConclusionsPublic attitudes towards people with mental illness in England and Scotland became less positive during 1994–2003, especially in 2000–2003, and to a greater extent in England. The results are consistent with early positive effects for the ‘see me’ anti-stigma campaign in Scotland.

POLICE OFFICERS' KNOWLEDGE OF, AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS, MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahal Salimi ◽  
◽  
Bryan Gere ◽  
Sharo Shafaie ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Mental Health Awareness

"Police officers are some of the first professionals that might have direct interaction with individuals with mental illnesses. Statistics show that from 2017 to 2020 about 3986 individuals in the United States were fatally shot by police officers (Statista, 2021). These reports indicate that at least 25% and as many as 50% of all fatal shootings involved individuals with untreated severe mental illness. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the effectiveness of a five-day psycho-educational mental health awareness training in enhancing law enforcement officers’ knowledge about mental illness, and their perceptions towards mentally ill individuals using a pretest-posttest design. The Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale was used to measure participants’four mental health attitudinal domains - authoritarianism, benevolence, social restrictiveness, and community mental health ideology. The results indicate that at the completion of the training there was an increase in participants’ confidence about their knowledge of the mentally ill individuals and mental illness conditions. However, the results also indicate a slight decrease in participants' mental illness social restrictiveness sentiment after the completion of the training. Additionally, the results also show a correlation between demographic variables and some of the domains. Implications for practice are discussed."

scholarly journals Changing minds at the earliest opportunity

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 213-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Mixed Responses ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

Stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness are reinforced by lack of knowledge, and it would seem logical to tackle this from the earliest possible age. A series of talks about mental illness to primary school children were enthusiastically received by the pupils, and revealed that negative attitudes were already present among the older children. The mixed responses of teaching staff supported the idea that increasing awareness of mental illness may have a place in primary education.

scholarly journals GAMBARAN STIGMA MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KLIEN GANGGUAN JIWA DI RW 09 DESA CILELES SUMEDANG

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Gilang Purnama ◽  
Desy Indra Yani ◽  
Titin Sutini
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Stratified Random Sampling ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Heads Of Household

ABSTRAKStigma merupakan label negatif yang melekat pada tubuh seseorang yang diberikan oleh masyarakat dan dipengaruhi oleh lingkungan. Stigma salah satu faktor penghambat dalam penyembuhan klien gangguan jiwa.Cileles adalah suatu Desa dengan jumlah klien gangguan jiwa yang meningkat setiap tahunnya.Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui gambaran stigma masyarakat terhadap klien gangguan jiwa di RW 09 Desa Cileles.Desain penelitian menggunakan deskriptif kuantitatif. Populasi penelitian 253 Kepala Keluarga dan Sampel 155 responden dengan menggunakan teknik stratified random sampling. Instrumen penelitian menggunakan kuisoner Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill dan instrumentnya valid dan reliabel.Analisis data yang digunakan adalah distribusi frekuensi dan skor median.Stigma terdiri dari 4 domain, masing-masing domain skornya 10 – 50. Hasil penelitian menunjukan domain otoriterisme mediannya 34 dengan IQR2, selanjutnya adalah komponen berdasarkan domain kebajikan dengan nilai skor 33 dengan IQR 2, kemudian domain ideologi komunitas kesehatan mental dengan skor 33 dengan IQR 4 dan yang paling rendah domain pembatasan sosial dengan nilai 27 dengan IQR 7. Hal tersebut dapat berarti bahwa lebih banyak responden yang menganggap bahwa klien gangguan jiwa harus diperlakukan dengan kasar.Penelitian ini bisa disimpulkan bahwa domain otoriterisme adalah domain stigma yang paling tinggi dan pembatasan sosial adalah domain yang paling rendah. Hasil penelitian ini perlu di tindak lanjuti dengan memberikan intervensi yang tepat sesuai dengan domain-domain yang ada Kata kunci : Gangguan Jiwa, Masyarakat, Stigma.  ABSTRACTStigma is a negative label attached to the body of someone who is paid by the public and influenced by the environment. Stigma one of the inhibiting factor in the healing of clients with mental disorders. Cileles is a village with a number of clients with mental disorders is increasing every year.  This research aims to describe the stigma against mental illness clients in RW 09 Cileles.This research used descriptive quantitative design. Population consisted of 253 heads of household and involved 155 respondents were taken with stratified random sampling. This research used Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill Questionnaire and the instrument was valid and reliable. Data Analyzed with descriptive analysis and used median score.Stigma is composed of four domains, each domain likelihood score is 10-50. Research results from obtained that the median score on the domain of authoritarianism is 34 with IQR 2, next is a component based on the domain of virtue with a score of 33 with IQR 2, then based on the ideological aspect mental health community with a score of 33 with IQR 4 and the lowest is based on aspects of social restrictions with value 27 with IQR 7. This result indicated that majority of respondent considered that patient with mental ill should be treated rudely.To concluded, authoritarianism domain is the highest domain stigma and social restrictions are the domain of the lowest. The results of this study need to be followed up with appropriate interventions in accordance with existing domains. Keyword : Mental Illness, Society, Stigma 

scholarly journals Intergroup Metaphors

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Holland ◽  
Michelle Stratemeyer ◽  
Nick Haslam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
The State ◽  
Common Phenomenon ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Insight Into

Intergroup metaphors represent human groups as nonhuman entities, such as animals, objects, plants, or forces of nature. These metaphors are abundant, diverse in meanings, and frequently but not invariably derogatory. Intergroup metaphors may be explicitly represented in language or implicitly represented as nonconscious mental associations. Research and theory on dehumanization offer a useful perspective on these metaphors, and show that likening outgroups to animals is a particularly common phenomenon. Frequently, groups are metaphorically compared to disgusting or degrading animals during times of conflict, but people also tend to view members of outgroups as subtly more animal-like or primitive than their own group even in the absence of conflict. Depending on the use of intergroup metaphors in the contexts of race, gender, social class, immigration, mental illness, and terrorism, intergroup metaphors can have damaging consequences for intergroup relations. Metaphors that represent some people as subhuman entities can diminish empathy and compassion for their suffering. Metaphors that represent certain groups as bestial or diabolical can enable violence, including support for harsh treatment by the state. Some metaphors not only promote violence and discrimination but also help people to legitimize violent behavior and injustice after the fact. Metaphors therefore offer an intriguing insight into the nature of intergroup relations, and how these relations are colored not only by positive or negative attitudes but also by dehumanizing perceptions.

scholarly journals Perspectives of GCSE students attending a psychiatry summer school in south London

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Clementine Wyke ◽  
Glori-Louise de Bernier ◽  
Chun Chiang Sin Fai Lam ◽  
Clare Holt ◽  
Sophie Butler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Summer School ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Career Option ◽  
Participant Experience ◽  
Experience Effects ◽  
Positive Intervention

Aims and Method This study evaluated a pilot psychiatry summer school for GCSE students in terms of participant experience, effects on attitudes to mental illness and perception of psychiatry as a career option. This was done using the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill scale, career choice questionnaires and a discussion group following the week-long programme attended by 26 students. Results Students were significantly more likely to choose psychiatry after the summer school (P = 0.01). There were statistically significant changes in scores for social restrictiveness (P = 0.04) and community mental health ideology (P = 0.02). Qualitative analysis generated four themes: variation in expectations, limited prior knowledge, perception of the summer school itself and uniformly positive attitudes to psychiatry after the summer school. Clinical implications Targeting students at this early stage appears to be an underexplored positive intervention for improving both attitudes towards mental illness and recruitment to psychiatry.

Attitude of society towards people with mental illness: The result of national survey of the Slovak population

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarína Letovancová ◽  
Nadežda Kovalčíková ◽  
Patricia Dobríková
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Significant Relation ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Slovak Population ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes

Aims: Our survey has been aimed at identifying the society attitude towards people with mental illness in Slovakia. Method: Selected group comprised 1,624 adult respondents with 18 years of age as the bottom limit. We applied reduced 26-item Community Attitudes Toward Mentally Ill Scale (CAMI) to the survey of the society attitude towards people with mental illness. Results: Average score reached by the respondents reached 94.0800 points, indicating lower stigmatization rate than presumed. Further investigation revealed prejudice and stigmatizing attitudes at significant part of the population. The survey confirmed statistically significant differences at the attitudes in the terms of gender ( t = −6.559, p = .000), age within the categories (χ2 = 20.358, p = .000), education ( F = 9.137, p = .000), socio-economic status (χ2 = 50.487, p = .000) and occupation (χ2 = 47.989, p = .000). We also confirmed statistically significant relation between the attitude and age (−.085**, p = .001). Conclusion: The survey confirmed rather neutral up to slightly positive attitude of the Slovak population towards people with mental illness. Existence of attitudes burdened with fear was revealed in some cases, indicating the need for continuous education of the society in this subject matter.

Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness: The Influence of Contact and Demographic Variables

1985 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Sellick ◽  
Jo Goodear
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Ethnic Origin ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Toward Mental Illness ◽  
Opinions About Mental Illness

Residents of three large rural cities were surveyed to investigate the influence of ‘psychiatric exposure’ and demographic variables on community attitudes toward mental illness. Samples drawn from the three communities, which differed according to the availability of mental health services, were administered the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale, with questionnaire items that elicited measures of the amount of contact with mental illness and standard demographic data. Multiple regression analyses showed that demographic but not ‘exposure’ variables had a significant influence on community attitudes. Contrary to previous findings, the older, less-educated members of the public were more positive in their opinions on mental health issues. Other variables to have an influence on attitudes were ethnic origin and occupational status.

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