Citation

Dąbek J, Kulik H, Wrona E, Surma S, Mazanek A. Minerva Psichiatr. 2020; 61(1): 25-33.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Italian Society of Social Psychiatry, Publisher Edizioni Minerva Medica)

DOI

10.23736/S0391-1772.19.02042-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Attitudes presented by society towards mentally ill people were and they are still diverse, ranging from reverence and respect, to being considered insane and dangerous to the environment. Behind the mentally ill often go: inhuman treatment, stigmatization and marginalization, as well as the willingness to understand and helping them. The aim of the study was to get to know opinions about mentally ill people.

METHODS: A total of 140 people were examined, including: 70 high school students (39 women and 31 men) and 70 adults (44 women and 26 men). The survey was conducted with the help of the original questionnaire consisting of 27 closed questions and 2 open questions.

RESULTS: As many as 110 (79%) of respondents thought that mental illness is a disease of the mind and 51% had direct contact with mentally ill patients. Most of the respondents felt embarrassment and anxiety while being with the mentally ill. In addition, especially the surveyed men, more often than the women surveyed (24 respondents, 17% vs. eight respondents, 6%) believed that the mentally ill were dangerous, and as many as 27 (19%) of respondents supported their isolation.

CONCLUSIONS: Most of the respondents had contact with mentally ill patients. Worrying is the fact that mentally ill people are still considered so dangerous that they should be isolated from the rest of society. © 2019 edizioni minerva medica.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; Awareness; human; social interaction; mental health; female; health education; male; psychotherapy; Mental disorders; Mental health; depression; schizophrenia; anxiety; suicide attempt; awareness; major clinical study; mental disease; questionnaire; personality disorder; neurosis; attitude to health; consciousness; Down syndrome; intellectual impairment; Article; speech disorder; hearing impairment; private sector; social stigma; public sector; Rett syndrome; Social stigma; embarrassment