Attitudes toward the mentally ill among community health-related personnel in South Korea

Background and Aims: Prejudice and negative attitudes toward mental illness are major obstacles in the rehabilitation and functional recovery of patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of health-related personnel toward mentally ill patients in a local urban community in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of psychiatry 2017-07, Vol.59 (3), p.328-332
Main Authors: Jung, Wook, Choi, Eunkyung, Yu, Jaehak, Park, Doo-Heum, Ryu, Seung-Ho, Ha, Jee
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Attitudes
Beliefs, opinions and attitudes
Community support
Education
Gender
Health aspects
Low income groups
Medical personnel
Medicine
Mental disorders
Mental health
Mental health care
Mentally ill persons
Metropolitan areas
Original
Personnel
Practice
Psychiatry
Public health
Recovery of function
Rehabilitation
Statistical analysis
Stigma
Studies
Workers
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Summary:Background and Aims: Prejudice and negative attitudes toward mental illness are major obstacles in the rehabilitation and functional recovery of patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of health-related personnel toward mentally ill patients in a local urban community in South Korea. Materials and Methods: In total, 401 participants (men, 132; women, 269; mean age, 37.3 ± 9.5 years) were recruited. The participants were health-related personnel in a district of Seoul, who were recruited from three different workplaces: a local administration office, a public health center, and a community welfare center. Sociodemographic data were gathered, and the community attitudes toward the mentally ill (CAMI) inventory were administered. Comparisons of the CAMI subscales were conducted among participants using statistical analysis. Results: Community welfare center workers showed more authoritarianism and social restriction and less community mental health ideology than the other two groups. Among the demographic variables, a shorter working career, higher education, female gender, and younger age were also related to a more negative attitude toward mentally ill patients. Conclusion: Community health-related personnel who have contact with patients with mental illness should be encouraged to have a fair, hospitable, and open-minded attitude. It is advisable for these workers to receive interventions such as regular educational programs early in their careers.
ISSN:0019-5545
1998-3794
DOI:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_58_16