Attitudes and Perceptions of General Population towards mental illness; drawing future mental health services

Despite the magnitude of mental health problems worldwide, many cases of deinstitutionalization have failed to achieve their targets for a number of reasons including lack of appropriate community psychiatric services and lack of knowledge of new approaches. Aim: Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the attitudes, beliefs, and mental health literacy of the general population toward mental illness. Methodology: The Attitudes toward Severe Mental Illness (ASMI) scale was administered in the general population (n = 935) to compare stereotypes and optimism with regard to mental health patients and their abilities to integrate into the society. Results: The results indicate a general positive attitude that the general population holds towards mental illness (M = 2.55, SD = 0.61). However questions revealed knowledge and previous experience indicated contradictory results to the previous one. Participants' answers to the source of knowledge as far as mental health showed they had no immediate contact with mentally ill. Measurement of social openness and truthfulness indicated a split in the sample. As far as guiltiness concern participants consider individuals with mental illness as people who blame themselves for all bad things that happen in their lives. Educational level had a significant impact (p<. 004) on the attitude "that mentally ill people are of a serious threat to our lives''. Discussion: The use of scales such as the ASMI not only makes it possible to map out attitudes and views but also to measure individuals' beliefs toward inclusion of these people. Results indicate that the core of the treatment needs to be shifted from the medical compliance to the satisfaction of psycho-social needs of service users. Finally, targeted educational programs referring to secondary education students and young adults may lead to lower rates of social isolation and include more incidents of social integration.