A community's attitudes towards the mentally ill.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the general community's knowledge of mental illness and personal experience of people with mental illness.


METHODS
Three hundred randomly selected Dunedin residents were surveyed by a postal questionnaire. The instruments used to measure attitudes were a shortened form of the Californian attitudes towards mental illness scale (CAMI scale) and a social distance scale. In addition, questions were asked about the respondent's age, gender, marital status, level of education, their main source of opinion, their experience with the mentally ill, and their beliefs about the causes and types of mental illness.


RESULTS
Having known a person with mental illness facilitates more intimate relationships with people with a mental illness. Sociodemographic variables did not predict attitudes on the CAMI scale. Most respondents who had been in contact with the mentally ill held informed and enlightened views.


CONCLUSIONS
The community needs and welcomes information on the subject of mental illness and has a positive outlook for the future planning of the rehabilitation of people with mental illness.
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin.
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Martin
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Romans
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012929:Psychological Distance; D011639:Public Opinion; D012737:Sex Factors