ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2020 March;61(1):25-33

DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1772.19.02042-9

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Mental illness in social awareness

Józefa DĄBEK ¹, Halina KULIK ², Ewelina WRONA ², Stanisław SURMA ³ ✉, Agnieszka MAZANEK ³

¹ Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; ² Department of Nursing and Nursing Propedeutics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland; ³ Student Scientific Circle, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

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.

KEY WORDS: Mental disorders; Mental health; Awareness; Social stigma