Attitudes of General Population, Health Professionals and Nursing Students, Toward Mental Illness

The readiness of the public for acceptance and support of psychiatric patients, influences at a considerable degree the successful return to the social entity. Negative attitudes toward mentally ill people exist, not only among health professionals but also between psychiatric professionals. This fact lead to ineffective treatment, social isolation, patient's discourage and keeping up their institutional care. The attitudes of the medical and nursing students towards psychiatric patients are very important, because the psychiatric education possibly influenced to the formation of their attitudes towards psychiatric illness. It is underlined the need of increase the empathy of general population as well as the people who get involved in psychiatric patients care. It will reduce the social distance and reinforce the social integration.

Keywords: Mental illness, Attitudes, Public, Health professional, Nursing student, Education