title: The silence of mental health issues within university environments: a quantitative study.
abstract: A descriptive study was used to examine the attitudes and experiences of staff and students towards mental health problems. Staff completed the "Attitude towards mental illness survey", and students who self-identified having a mental health problem completed the "Stigma scale". Using an online collection process, data from 270 staff and 201 students showed that the "silence" surrounding mental health problems permeates the university environment and impacts on help seeking behaviors, the provision of support and on the recovery and wellbeing of affected individuals. Universities must decrease stigma and foster social inclusion to build self-esteem in people who have mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: d.wynaden@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wynaden
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: m.mcallister@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: J.Tohotoa@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tohotoa
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Jerash University, Jordan, Jerash, Amman, Jerash, Jordan. Electronic address: o.alomari@jpu.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al Omari
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: K.Heslop@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heslop
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: R.Duggan@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ravani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.affiliation: Curtin University, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: S.Murray@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University Rockhampton, North Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: b.happell@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Happell
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Central Queensland University Rockhampton, North Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: l.byrne@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult