Mental health stigma about serious mental illness among MSW students: social contact and attitude.
In this study, the attitudes toward and beliefs about serious mental illness (SMI) held by a group of graduate social work students in the northwestern United States were examined. Mental health stigma was examined with relation to the following factors:participants'level of social contact with SMI populations, adherence to stereotypes about SMI populations, belief in the ability to recover from SMI, and the belief that SMI defines an individual's identity. Measures used to identify mental health stigma included the desire for social distance and restrictions with relation to the SMI population. Survey results from 71 graduate social work students found that a significant number of participants who engaged in friendships with SMI-diagnosed individuals had less desire for social distance from and restrictions toward SMI populations. Participants who indicated that they believed in stereotypes of dangerousness and believed that SMI defines an individual's identity were more likely to express desire for both social distance and restrictions. Implications for social work and further research on the matter are discussed.
Bill Wilson Center, San Jose, CA 95126, USA. irenecovarrubias@yahoo.com
Irene
I
Covarrubias
Meekyung
M
Han
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004500:Education, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015205:Northwestern United States; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057545:Social Stigma; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education*; D013240:Stereotyping