Attitudes in Healthcare Students Towards Mental Illness - A Pre- and Post Multicenter University Program Survey

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of naturalistic educational interventions on attitudes towards persons with mental illness. Methods: In a pre nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psycholo course in mental illness, using questionnaires focusing general and towards schizophrenia in particular their being afraid of people with mental illness in general and being more positive towards having mentally ill people living neighbourhood. Differences between the student groups were found. Some educational features positively influencing stigmatizing attitudes were identified. Conclusion: mostly on fear. To understand the effective educational ingredients for change, further research is needed. INTRODUCTION Stigma is seen as a construct consisting of lack of knowledge, negative attitudes group of people.1 The classical labelling theory focuses on the stereotyping and rejection of others which leads to demoralization and social exclusion.2 Stereotypes in the context of mental disorders are described as knowledge structures that represent a social group, e.g., the collective social notions of a certain group of people Vol. 9 o. 3 ISS 1540-580X owards Mental Illness A Pre RPT., PhD1 Bengt Svensson, R.N., PhD1 Tommy Björkman, R.N., PhD1 Lars Hansson, PhD1 OT Reg., PhD1 Ulrika Bejerholm, OT Reg., PhD1 Urban Markström, BSW, PhD2 Margareta Östman, BSW, PhD3 Mona Eklund, OT Reg., PhD3 David Brunt, R.N., PhD4 Mikael Sandlund, MD, PhD5 Malmö University, Malmö aring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö