Donal O'Keeffe1, Niall Turner2, Sharon Foley3, Elizabeth Lawlor1, Anthony Kinsella4, Eadbhard O'Callaghan1, Mary Clarke1. 1. a DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service , Blackrock , Dublin , Ireland . 2. b Cluain Mhuire Family Centre , Blackrock , Dublin , Ireland . 3. c Early Psychosis Service, Metro South Mental Health , Australia , Macgregor , Australia , and. 4. d Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics Department, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , Dublin , Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is an unclear relationship between mental health literacy (MHL) and psychiatric stigma. MHL is associated with both positive and negative attitudes to mental illness. To our knowledge, no published peer reviewed study has examined this relationship in the Republic of Ireland. AIMS: This study was conducted to assess MHL regarding schizophrenia and the degree of psychiatric stigma displayed by the general public in the Republic of Ireland. METHOD: A face-to-face in-home omnibus survey was conducted with a representative sample of residents of the Republic of Ireland. Participants (N = 1001) were presented with a vignette depicting schizophrenia and were asked questions to determine their ability to recognise the condition and to ascertain their attitudes towards schizophrenia and mental illness. RESULTS: Among the participants, 34.1% correctly identified schizophrenia. Higher age, higher socioeconomic status, and an urban geographic location predicted identification. Those who did not correctly identify schizophrenia were significantly more optimistic about recovery and perceived people with schizophrenia as less dangerous. However, only the relationship with perceived dangerousness was considered robust. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with higher MHL displayed more negative attitudes to mental illness. Findings have implications internationally for MHL and anti-stigma campaigns.
BACKGROUND: There is an unclear relationship between mental health literacy (MHL) and psychiatric stigma. MHL is associated with both positive and negative attitudes to mental illness. To our knowledge, no published peer reviewed study has examined this relationship in the Republic of Ireland. AIMS: This study was conducted to assess MHL regarding schizophrenia and the degree of psychiatric stigma displayed by the general public in the Republic of Ireland. METHOD: A face-to-face in-home omnibus survey was conducted with a representative sample of residents of the Republic of Ireland. Participants (N = 1001) were presented with a vignette depicting schizophrenia and were asked questions to determine their ability to recognise the condition and to ascertain their attitudes towards schizophrenia and mental illness. RESULTS: Among the participants, 34.1% correctly identified schizophrenia. Higher age, higher socioeconomic status, and an urban geographic location predicted identification. Those who did not correctly identify schizophrenia were significantly more optimistic about recovery and perceived people with schizophrenia as less dangerous. However, only the relationship with perceived dangerousness was considered robust. CONCLUSIONS:Participants with higher MHL displayed more negative attitudes to mental illness. Findings have implications internationally for MHL and anti-stigma campaigns.
Entities:
Keywords:
Mental health literacy; recovery optimism; schizophrenia; stigma; violence
Authors: Catherine Spooner; Upali W Jayasinghe; Nighat Faruqi; Nigel Stocks; Mark F Harris Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-05-21 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Donal O'Keeffe; Ailish Hannigan; Roisin Doyle; Anthony Kinsella; Ann Sheridan; Aine Kelly; Kevin Madigan; Elizabeth Lawlor; Mary Clarke Journal: Aust N Z J Psychiatry Date: 2019-02-06 Impact factor: 5.744
Authors: L Picco; E Abdin; S Pang; J A Vaingankar; A Jeyagurunathan; S A Chong; M Subramaniam Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2016-12-08 Impact factor: 6.892