Dr.Neeli Uma Jyothi et al /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol.

7(7), 2015, 393-396

A Questionnaire Survey on Student’s Attitudes

towards Individuals with Mental Illness
Dr.Neeli Uma Jyothi,Mounica.Bollu*,Sk.Faizan Ali,D.Sri Chaitanya,S.Mounika.
Acharya Nagarjuna University

Abstract
Objectives:To obtain information about basic knowledge towards mental disorders and to evaluate Students attitudes
towards people with mental disorders.
Methods: Questionnaires which collected basic demographic information, BMI (Beliefs towards Mental Illness) scale is
used to assess the attitudes and is delivered to all the students.
Results: Completed questionnaires were collected from 50 subjects. In general, the participants’ attitude towards people
with mental illness was poor.In this study,majority of the participants were aged 20 to 23 years compared with
other age-groups and were found to be males. 100% of the respondents says that they get afraid of what others
would think if they were diagnosed as having a psychological disorder.
Conclusions: Personal contact with people with mental illness may help to improve condition. Younger people in secondary
school should be the target and prioritised group for mental health education. Apart from the delivery of mental
health knowledge, strategies to increase social contact of the public with people having mental illness could be
considered in the design and implementation of anti-stigma programmes.
Key Words: Students,Attitudes,Mental Illness,Survey.

INTRODUCTION : four components can occur together in a situation in the

Stigma appears in the students who lack knowledge, group of people who empower over other groups[1]. To
adopting negative attitudes and avoiding certain group of overcome this stigma and discrimination from decades is to
people (usually with mental illness)[1]. Discrimination is support and change the tools of institutionalisation[2].
also seen along with stigma as long as such mental illness Lack of knowledge and awareness among the students is
exist. Despite of the burdens the mental illness, some associated with the negative attitudes towards mental
societies continue to hold deep-rooted,culture sensitive and illness in the community. Medical health professionals have
negative beliefs about mental illnesses[2]. The theory of to conduct awareness camps at initiative levels like
classical labelling focus on stereotyping and rejection of schools,universities. The results of previous studies on
others which may lead to social exclusion and attitude towards mental illness after a training programme
demoralization[3]. These group of people usually show the in students showed a positive result towards the non-
impairment in cognitive,emotional and behavioural aspects. medical students when compared to medical students[4].
Examples of the cognitive aspects in the patient with The patients with mental illness have shorter life span and
mental illness include irresponsible, unpredictable etc they higher incidence of lifetime disorder. Some illness like
are usually diagnosed as schizophrenia. As schizophrenia metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and
patients are aggressive sometimes they may be dangerous sexual dysfunction also accompany the patients with
so they are separated in student’s view due to fear[4]. Due to mental illness. When the question of gender arises for
this the patients are significantly less willing to interact stigma women face stigmatization in the area of
with them (student or people alike) and sometimes it reproduction , decreased parenting skills, breast feeding
creates loneliness to patient or it may leads to violent skills and increased feeling of powerlessness. Whereas Fear
behaviour towards others who are less willing to interact is the major cause for discrimination and stigma. To
with them. Due to this stigma and discrimination the people overcome this fear, the effective method is increased
with mental illness face difficulties in social relationships, tolerance and changing negative attitude. The BMI (Beliefs
experience social isolation, social withdrawl, social towards Mental Illness scale) scale is used to asses the
distance, homelessness, unemployment and attitudes of students[6]. It consists of totally 21 questions
institutionalisation[5][2]. The patients with mental illness are
considered as labeled persons. The concept of stigma has AIM AND OBJECTIVE
been divided into four components:- labeling, stereotyping, The current study aims at assessing the attitudes of students
separation, status loss and discrimination. Labeling towards mental illness.
involves categorizing the people in different groups.
Stereotyping involves the association of labels with METHODS AND MATERIALS
negative attributes. Separation is itself used to justify the It’s a descriptive cross-sectional survey.
association of negative attributes to labelled persons. Instruments
Finally these three leads to loss of status and an experience 1. Semi structured proforma which included the
of discrimination by the labelled person. The four sociodemographic data (age, sex, residence, religion, and
components are interconnected with each other[1] [4]. All the socioeconomic status), family history).

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2. The BMI scale is used to assess the attitudes towards Educational background also considered in the study in
mental illness in college students . The BMI (Beliefs which medical students were the recognised as major
towards Mental Illness scale) is a 21‑item self‑report respondents,and most them belong to the religion of Hindu
measure of negative stereotypical views of mental illness. and 8 among 50 participants have patients with mental
There is a Total Score and three subscales based on factor illness in their families and found to be having negative
analysis: dangerousness, poor social and interpersonal attitude towards the people suffering with mental illness.
skills, and incurability. The poor social skills subscale also
taps feelings of shame about mental illness and the
perception that the mentally ill are untrustworthy. Items are
rated on a six‑point Likert scale ranging from ‘completely
disagree’ (0) to ‘completely agree’ (5), with higher scores
reflecting more negative beliefs.

RESULTS :
The survey forms were distributed to 50 students. Those
consenting to participate were recruited in the study. The
response rate was high at 85%. The survey questionnaire
was administered in an anonymous form and no identifiable
information was collected from the participants. Conditions
of anonymity and confidentiality were observed throughout
the course of the study.

CHARACTERISTIC N
Age
18-20 13
20-23 28
>23 9
Gender
Male 31
Female 19
Education
Medical students 22
Pharmacy students 17
Nursing students 11
Religion
Hindu 18
Muslim 15 The results revealed that majority of respondents were
Christian 17 afraid of people with mental illness even with people
Having a patient with having mental illness living in their neighbourhood.90% of
mental disorder in their 8 students believe that A mentally ill person is more likely to
family harm others.84% says that Mentally ill people are unlikely
to be able to live by themselves because they are unable to
Majority of the participants belongs to the age group of 20- assume responsibilities.96% believe that psychological
23 yrs and were found to be males. disorders have no cure . 94% answered that they would feel
embarrassed if a person in their family became mentally
ill. 100% of the respondents says that they get afraid of
what others would think if they were diagnosed as having a
psychological disorder.92% People thought that mentally
affected people who once received psychological treatment
are likely to need further treatment in their future.86% of
the respondents felt that it may be a good idea to stay away
from the people who have psychological disorders because
of their behaviour which is usually dangerous.

In short , the results signifies that majority of the study

participants have the negative attitudes Towards mentally
ill persons.

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SCORE OF THE STUDY GROUP ON BELIEF In our study, Majority of the participants belongs to the age
TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS SCALE group of 20-23 yrs and were found to be males .90% of
Proportion Of students believe that a mentally ill person is more likely to
Subjects That harm others and 100% of the respondents says that they get
STATEMENT Completely Agree afraid of what others would think if they were diagnosed as
With The Statement having a psychological disorder.these results were
N % compared with a study by Helia Ghanean et al [5]; in which
A mentally ill person is more likely to
45 90% it was found that majority of the participants were males
harm others than a normal person
Mental disorders would require a much and belongs to the age group of 26 - 45 years and it was
longer period of time to be cured than 47 94% found that 52 % in Tehran and 96.5% in Nigeria think that
would other general diseases people with mental illness are dangerous because of violent
It may be a good idea to stay away from behaviour .24% in Tehran and 82.9% in Nigeria feel that
people who have psychological disorder 43 86% they get ashamed if people knew someone in their family
because their behaviour is dangerous been diagnosed with mental illness.
The term ‘psychological disorder’
41 82% In another study by Jennifer Hill [1] it was shown that the
makes me feel embarrassed Students who label people experiencing the mental
A person with psychological disorder disorders as being mentally ill are not significantly less
should have a job with only minor 38 76% willing to interact with them. And Students are also
responsibilities
significantly more likely to believe that the people
Mentally ill people are more likely to be
27 54% experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia would do
criminals
Psychological disorder is recurrent 45 90% something violent toward the others.
I am afraid of what my boss, friends and High levels of ignorance, prejudice and discrimination
others would think if I were diagnosed 50 100% towards the mentally ill patients was observed in studies
as having a psychological disorder among health professionals in, Canada, Croatia, England,
Individuals diagnosed as mentally ill Australia, Brazil Malaysia, Spain and Turkey.
suffer from its symptoms throughout 48 96% Studies among medical students have also reported
their life unfavorable attitudes towards mentally ill.The knowledge
People who have once received of the attitude and awareness of the undergraduate students
psychological treatment are likely to 46 92% towards the psychiatry and diseases, mental health and
need further treatment in the future
mental disorders is of utmost importance as these people
It might be difficult for mentally ill
people to follow social rules such as 47 94% are going to be involved in the patients care either directly
being punctual or keeping promises or indirectly during their careers. An overwhelming
I would be embarrassed if people knew majority of patients with neurosis, depression, alcohol‑
that I dated a person who once received 23 46% related problems, sexual problems and psychosomatic
psychological treatment disorders have been found to seek treatment from general
I am afraid of people who are suffering physicians in India.
from psychological disorder because 42 84% Further education on the causes and management of
they may harm me mental disorders for the public is necessary. Personal
A person with psychological disorder is
38 76% contact with people suffering with the mental illness may
less likely to function well as a parent
I would be embarrassed if a person in
help to improve their condition.Younger students should be
47 94% the target prioritised for mental health education. Apart
my family became mentally ill
I believe that psychological disorder can from the delivery of mental health knowledge, strategies
48 96% should aim to increase social contact with persons having
never be completely cured
Mentally ill people are unlikely to be mental illness. Such measures could be considered in an
able to live by themselves because they 42 84% attempt to overcome stigmas and discrimination in the
are unable to assume responsibilities community. Tracking the attitudes toward mental illness
Most people would not knowingly be can serve as an indicator of the public’s mental health
48 96%
friends with a mentally ill person literacy.
The behaviour of people who have
45 90%
psychological disorders in unpredictable
CONCLUSION :
Psychological disorder is unlikely to be
47 94% Creating awareness in students regarding the mental illness
cured regardless of treatment
I would not trust the work of a mentally and the care to be taken for the patients with mental illness
45 90% is very important because most of the population is found
ill person assigned to my work team
to be suffering with any one of the mental disorders like
DISCUSSION : schizophrenia,depression,bipolar disorder,OCD.
The current study made use of a survey based methodology This is a student centered survey and is chosen to assess
to study the attitude of students from different professions their attitude.This shows that improvement in the role of
towards mental illness.the results of the current study was teachers in educating their students regarding the mental
compared with that of the other. health is important .Continuous educational programmes in
the way of oral presentations, verbal reminders, providing

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newsletters through emails and direct distribution , 6. Tarun Yadav,Kishore Arya,Dinesh Kataria,Yatan Pal Singh
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Experience With Mental Illness Make A Difference? Med Educ
We would like to thank all the participants of this survey. 2000;34:234‑6.
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