title: Knowledge and attitudes as predictors of intentions to seek help for and disclose a mental illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals often choose not to seek help for or disclose their mental illness. This study examined whether having more positive attitudes and more knowledge about mental illness could predict intentions to seek help from a general practitioner and to disclose a mental illness to friends and family members.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Department of Health survey in England assessed knowledge about mental illness, attitudes toward people with mental illness, and level of contact with someone with a mental illness among 1,751 adults representative of the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With controls for social grade and race-ethnicity, intentions to seek help were predicted by better knowledge about mental illness, tolerance and support for community care of mental illness, and older age. Willingness to disclose one's mental illness was associated with better knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initiatives that increase knowledge and positive attitudes about mental illness among the general population may improve the extent to which individuals seek help for and disclose a mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rüsch
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Evans-Lacko
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flach
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D004739:England; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D058006:General Practice; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice; D011639:Public Opinion; D012650:Self Disclosure