title: Impact of work experience placements on school students' attitude towards mental illness.
abstract: Aims and method Research shows that 16- to 19-year-olds express the greatest level of negative attitudes towards people with mental illness. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of work experience placements in influencing secondary-school students' attitudes towards mental illness and career choices. The Adolescent Attitude Towards Mental Illness questionnaire measured and assessed the adolescents' attitude changes. Pre- and post-evaluation questionnaires assessed changes in their career choices. Results There was a statistically significant change in the adolescents' attitudes, especially regarding categorical thinking and perceptions that people with mental illness are violent and out of control. There was also a positive shift in their career choices towards options in the field of mental health. Clinical implications Work experience placements can have a positive impact on secondary-school students' attitudes towards mental illness and may improve the level of student recruitment into the field of psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Vanathi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent.
authors.forename: Ravindra B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Belgamwar