Greek university student's attitudes and beliefs concerning mental illness and its treatment.
Title | Greek university student's attitudes and beliefs concerning mental illness and its treatment. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Authors | Kaparounaki, C. K., Koraka C. A., Kotsi E. S., Ntziovara A-M. P., Kyriakidis G. C., & Fountoulakis K. N. |
Journal | Int J Soc Psychiatry |
Volume | 65 |
Issue | 6 |
Pagination | 515-526 |
Date Published | 2019 09 |
ISSN | 1741-2854 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Female, Greece, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders, Social Stigma, Students, Surveys and Questionnaires, Universities, Young Adult |
Abstract | INTRODUCTION: Stigma concerning mental disorder is a widespread phenomenon concerning the beliefs and attitudes of the public toward mental patients with a significant negative impact on state policy and the outcome of the patients.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 1,363 students of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The survey was based on an Internet-based electronic platform. The statistical analysis included analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Yates corrected chi-square test.RESULTS: Approximately, 87% of students responded that they know what mental disorder is, 70% were informed from the Internet, 30% consider mental patients responsible for their condition, more than 95% blame the way they were raised and almost 60% consider mental disorder to be heritable. Only a minority feel negatively with a mental patient around and close to 80% would socialize with them. More than 80% accept the need for psychiatric medication treatment but the opinion is split concerning compulsory treatment, and one-third consider medication to be harmful.DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that most students believe they know much about mental illness; however, overall their responses are contradictory. They reply with confidence although they are informed mainly by the media and the Internet in an unreliable way. A number of factors including gender, specific school or personal experience of mental disorder in the family seem to influence the result. A combined educational plus contact might be necessary to reduce stigma, since education alone seems to exert a weak effect. |
DOI | 10.1177/0020764019864122 |
Alternate Journal | Int J Soc Psychiatry |
PubMed ID | 31311387 |