Beliefs of University Students on Mental Illness

Objective: This study was carried out with the aim of determining the beliefs of university students on mental illness. Methods: This is a descriptive study. The sample of the study comprises 516 students attending Gazi University. The data of the investigation were collected using Sociodemographic Information Form and Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMI) Results: Mean score of shame subscale was higher in married students than in single ones p< 0.05. Mean score of dangerousness subscale was higher in students who evaluated their economic status as average than the those who evaluated their status as high and low p< 0.05. Mean score of shame subscale was higher in students who did not meet anyone with psychiatric disease than those who did so p< 0.05. Mean scores of dangerousness and shame subscales were higher in the students who were either a neighbour or a friend of the individual with mental illness than those of the students who were relatives of a patient p< 0.05. Conclusion: Negative beliefs toward mental illness were higher among students who were married, have not met anyone with psychiatric disease, who had an average economic status. On the other hand, these negative beliefs were lower among students who had a relative with mental illness.