Changing attitude to mental illness among community mental health volunteers in south-western Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Community-based mental health services may be impaired by stigmatization and social distance towards persons with mental illness. Little is known about the impact of education on the attitude of volunteers for mental health programmes. This study aimed to examine the effect of an educational programme on the attitude of community volunteers towards mental illness.


METHODS
Thirty-one volunteers for a community mental health programme completed the Familiarity with Mental Illness Questionnaire and a modified version of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale (Bogardus, 1925) before and after an educational programme.


RESULTS
At the end of the educational session, perceived dangerousness was significantly reduced and attitude (social distance) towards persons with mental illness showed significant improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Attitudes of community volunteers towards persons with mental illness improve with educational programmes. This may lead to improved treatment and care of individuals who are mentally ill.
Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. abayomikay@gmail.com
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Abayomi
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Adelufosi
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Olajide
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012929:Psychological Distance; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data