Attitudes toward mental illness and psychiatry: Preliminary results

The aim of this study was to investigate the main beliefs, attitudes and behavioral intentions towards the mental illness, the mentally ill and the psychiatrist. A structured questionnaire was applied by professional interviewers to 800 subjects selected from the general adult population in Mexico City. The results obtained show that people's knowledge on such matters is wider than expected and attitudes are more positive than anticipated. The beliefs, attitudes and behavioral intentions reported were more positive the higher the educational level and occupational status, and more negative the higher the age. The responses were also more positive among those who had previous personal experiences with mental illness. Nevertheless, there remains and important lack of information regarding the causes, characteristics and main expressions of mental illness, as well as its treatment options. The need to develop educational programs in this matter is emphasized.