scholarly journals Public Attitudes Toward People With Mental Illness in New Zealand, 1995–1996

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Kazantzis ◽  
Amber Wakefield ◽  
Frank P. Deane ◽  
Kevin R. Ronan ◽  
Malcolm Johnson

AbstractArchival data from a cross-sectional survey of two cohorts of community-residing New Zealand adults (n = 157; n = 141) was analysed to examine social attitudes towards people with mental illness in a historical period associated with the establishment of a community mental health facility. Participants completed the Opinions about Mental Illness (OMI; Cohen & Struening, 1959), and the Comfort in Interaction Scale (CI, Beckwith & Mathews, 1994); the latter a measure of level of prior contact with people with mental illness. Across cohorts, the OMI Mental Hygiene subscale and the CI scale had significant variability. Older participants endorsed more Authoritarian, Social Restrictiveness and Interpersonal Ideology attitudes in their perception of people with mental illness than younger participants. Data supported the hypothesis that attitudes towards people with mental illness were influenced by social attitudes, and by opportunities to interact with people with mental illness in work settings.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S511-S511 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Al Alawi ◽  
H. Al Sinawi ◽  
S. AL-Adawi ◽  
L. Jeyaseelan ◽  
S. MurthiP

IntroductionStigma toward mental illness is an international phenomena and it has negative consequences on the patients and their families. Studies on public attitudes toward people with mental illness (PWMI) in the Arab world initially reported less prevalence of stigma compared to other societies; however, follow up studies showed that stigma was influenced by specific socio-cultural factors.AimsThis study aims to examine public attitudes toward people with mental illness in Oman and the impact of socio-demographic factors.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional survey conducted among the general public in Oman. The attitude was measured via the Attitude toward Mental Illness (AMI) questionnaire. Various demographic factors were examined including age, place of residence, occupation and previous encounter with PWMI. The data were collected using online research methods.ResultsA total of 601 subjects participated in this study, (M: 41.4%, F: 58.6%). 48% of the participants were aged 15–30 years while 46% were aged 31–45 years. The majority of the participants were employed and 10% were students. After adjusting for all other variables, subjects aged (15–30years) had less positive attitude compared to those aged (46–60 years) (P = 0.06). Socio-demographic factors such as gender, occupation and previous contact were correlated with the endorsement of positive attitudes toward PWMI.ConclusionThis study illustrated that public attitudes toward PWMI in Oman is generally sub-optimal. The observed attitudes were strongly influenced by age, gender, occupation and previous exposure to PWMI. Future studies with robust methodology are recommended to scrutinize the present findings.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Silvia Neves da Nova Fernandes ◽  
Wallace Borges Costa dos Santos ◽  
Wanderson Carneiro Moreira ◽  
Divane de Vargas ◽  
Maria do Perpétuo Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega

Abstract Objective: To identify the opinions of primary care nurses regarding mental illness and the care provided to this population. Methodology: Cross-sectional, quantitative study with the participation of 328 nurses of primary health care in Porto, Portugal. Data collected between April and August of 2018 through the scale "Opinions about Mental Illness" and socio demographic and labor questionnaire. Descriptive and correlational statistics were applied. Results: A total of 50% of the nurses presented positive opinions about the mental illness. Regarding the assistance provided in their unit of action, 53.4% considered inadequate and 50.3% recognized as adequate their knowledge about the role that primary health care has in assisting the person with mental illness. Conclusion: Positive opinions and recognition of the importance of primary care to people with mental illness are important indicators for qualified mental health care outside the field of specialty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M Simpson ◽  
Kingsley Agho ◽  
Benjamin Van Nugteren ◽  
Tuija Rasku ◽  
Sean Thompson ◽  
...  

Objective Stigma towards mental illness has been described in many health professions at the undergraduate level, but not in the discipline of paramedicine. The objective of this research was to describe levels of stigma towards people with mental illness as self-reported by undergraduate paramedicine students in Australia, Finland, New Zealand and South Africa. Design Using a cross-sectional design, an online survey was administered consisting of a validated instrument measuring self-reported stigma levels. Setting Four undergraduate paramedicine university programs in Australia, New Zealand, Finland and South Africa. Method The Opening Minds Scale for Health Providers (OMS-HC) is a validated, 20-item instrument measuring self-reported stigma. The 20 OMS-HC items were summed and generalised linear models with log link and Poisson family were used to examine associated factors. Results The overall level of self-reported stigma across students from all countries was 53, on a scale ranging from 20 (‘least stigmatised’) to 100 (‘most stigmatised’). Compared with the Australian cohort, total stigma scores increased significantly by 8% in New Zealand (p=0.01), 15% (p<0.001), and 18% in South Africa (p=0.002). Subscale analysis revealed high scores for social distance as a construct of stigma more broadly. Conclusion The findings provide an important baseline that can be used by paramedicine programs to inform development of mental healthcare curricula seeking to reduce stigma during the formative undergraduate years of professional development. The findings can be applied in a teaching and learning setting as source material to stimulate discussion and promote student self-reflection in a range of teaching activities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S433-S433
Author(s):  
O. Adekunte ◽  
C. Oliver ◽  
B. Owen

BackgroundThe quality of care provided to psychiatry patients by doctors can be influenced by attitudes towards mental illness. Equally important is the attitude of medical students as future treating doctors towards mental illness. This survey compares the differences in the attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical years student to mental illness.AimsTo compare attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical medical students’ to mental illness.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 212 clinical students (CS) and pre-clinical students (PS) at Newcastle University. Each responded anonymously to an electronic questionnaire. The responses take the form of: Yes/No, free text, order of preference, and Likert scale. Results were analysed based on basic statistical analysis.ResultsLittle differences exist between the 2 groups in their beliefs that psychiatric patients are not difficult to like, mental illness can be a result of social adversity, psychiatry patients often recover and that people with mental illness should be offered a job with responsibility. However, 54% PS disagreed that mental illness often leads to violence, compared to 66% CS and 87% of PS identified that mental illness can be genetic in origin compared with CS of 91%.ConclusionThis survey did not identify any significant difference between the attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical students in most of the domains. However, a higher percentage of clinical students associate violence with mental illness and are unwilling to consider an elective period in psychiatry.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Wamamili ◽  
M Wallace-Bell ◽  
A Richardson ◽  
R C Grace ◽  
P Coope

Abstract Background People with mental illness have higher smoking prevalence, and vaping is generally higher among smokers than non-smokers. However, data on associations of mental illness with smoking and vaping in New Zealand (NZ) is lacking. This study examines associations of history of mental illness (HMI) with smoking and vaping in NZ university students. Methods Data came from a March 2018 national cross-sectional study. χ2 tests compared patterns of smoking and vaping in students with and without HMI. An HMI was defined as a diagnosis, or treatment for depression, anxiety or nervous disorder, or other mental health condition in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression model assessed the association of an HMI with smoking and vaping. Results 1622 students were included: 82.7% aged &lt;25 years, 17.3% ≥25 years; 38.6% male, 61.4% female; 7.8% Māori, 92.2% non-Māori; 18.1% reported an HMI. Of respondents, 50.5% (95% CI 48.0-53.0) reported ever, 10.0% (8.6-11.6) current and 5.0% (4.0-6.2) daily smoking. Students with HMI were significantly more likely to report ever (p&lt;.001), current (p=.008) and daily smoking (p=.014) than those without HMI. 36.7% (34.3-39.1) of students reported ever, 6.7% (5.5-8.0) current and 2.5% (1.8-3.4) daily vaping. Students with HMI were significantly more likely to report ever (p&lt;.001), current (p=.002) and daily vaping (p=.022) than those without HMI. The full model containing all predictors was statistically significant, χ2 (5, N = 1621) = 34.843, p &lt; .001. Female gender: OR 0.55 (0.41-0.73); current smoking: OR 1.76 (1.19-2.60), and current vaping: OR 2.07 (1.32-3.25) were significantly associated with an HMI. Conclusions There were strong associations between an HMI and smoking and vaping (controlling for age, gender, ethnicity). These findings extend earlier work on the relationship between smoking and mental illness by demonstrating similar associations in university students, and generate new information on HMI and vaping. Key messages Significant numbers of students may have an HMI. Students with an HMI have higher prevalence of smoking and vaping than students without an HMI.


2015 ◽  
Vol 207 (5) ◽  
pp. 440-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Khalid Abdul-Hamid ◽  
Kelly Lewis-Cole ◽  
Frank Holloway ◽  
Ann Marisa Silverman

BackgroundThere is little research evidence as to whether general adult psychiatry or old age psychiatry should look after old people with enduring mental illness.AimsTo compare the extent to which general adult and old age psychiatric services meet the needs of older people with enduring mental illness.MethodA total of 74 elderly patients with functional psychiatric disorders were identified by reviewing the notes of patients over the age of 60 living in a defined inner urban catchment area. Data were collected on the morbidity and needs of the sample. Needs were assessed using the Elderly Psychiatric Needs Schedule (EPNS).ResultsThe participants in contact with old age psychiatry had significantly fewer unmet needs compared with those in contact with general adult psychiatry (2.8 v. 5.6, t = 2.2, P<0.03). Total needs were not significantly different between those managed by old age and general adult services (8.0 v. 6.5 respectively, t = 1.2, P = 0.2).ConclusionsThis study found that old age psychiatry services were better placed to meet the needs of elderly people with mental illness. This finding supports the need for a separate old age psychiatry service.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e037362
Author(s):  
Ben Wamamili ◽  
Mark Wallace-Bell ◽  
Ann Richardson ◽  
Randolph C Grace ◽  
Pat Coope

ObjectiveIn March 2011, New Zealand (NZ) launched an aspirational goal to reduce smoking prevalence to 5% or less by 2025 (Smokefree 2025 goal). Little is known about university students’ awareness of, support for and perceptions about this goal. We sought to narrow the knowledge gap.SettingUniversity students in NZ.MethodsWe analysed data from a 2018 cross-sectional survey of university students across NZ. Logistic regression analysis examined the associations between responses about the Smokefree goal with smoking and vaping, while controlling for age, sex and ethnicity. Confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported where appropriate.ParticipantsThe sample comprised 1476 students: 919 (62.3%) aged 18 to 20 and 557 (37.7%) aged 21 to 24 years; 569 (38.6%) male and 907 (61.4%) female; 117 (7.9%) Māori and 1359 (92.1%) non-Māori. Of these, 10.5% currently smoked (ie, smoked at least monthly) and 6.1% currently vaped (ie, used an e-cigarette or vaped at least once a month).ResultsOverall awareness of the Smokefree goal was 47.5% (95% CI: 44.9 to 50.1); support 96.9% (95% CI: 95.8 to 97.8); belief that it can be achieved 88.8% (95% CI: 86.8 to 90.7) and belief that e-cigarettes/vaping can help achieve it 88.1% (95% CI: 86.0 to 89.9).Dual users of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes had greater odds of being aware of the Smokefree goal (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 1.19 to 7.92), current smokers had lower odds of supporting it (OR=0.13, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.27) and of believing that it can be achieved (OR=0.15, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.24) and current vapers had greater odds of believing that e-cigarettes/vaping can help to achieve it (OR=8.57, 95% CI: 1.18 to 62.52) compared with non-users.ConclusionsThe results suggest strong overall support for the Smokefree goal and belief that it can be achieved and that e-cigarettes/vaping can help achieve it. Smoking and vaping were associated with high awareness of the Smokefree goal, but lower support and optimism that it can be achieved.


Author(s):  
Lisa Kremer ◽  
David Reith ◽  
Natalie J. Medlicott ◽  
Mary J. Sime ◽  
Liza Edmonds ◽  
...  

Objective This study was aimed to determine mydriatic regimen(s) used in neonatal units in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) and Australia and to estimate the frequency of adverse drug events following mydriatic administration in preterm neonates. Study Design A cross-sectional survey was sent to neonatal nursing staff listed in the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network contact list. Participants were asked to state what mydriatic regimen they use, and to estimate the frequency of adverse drug events when eye drops were administered for retinopathy of prematurity eye examinations (ROPEE). Results Thirteen different mydriatic regimens were identified; phenylephrine 2.5% and cyclopentolate 0.5% (1 standard drop of each) was the most commonly used regimen. Two of the regimens exceeded adult doses and five regimens included a mydriatic that is equivalent to an adult dose. Following mydriatic instillation, the three most common adverse effects were apnea, tachycardia, and periorbital pallor. Conclusion Low-concentration single-microdrop regimens are currently in use and resulting in successful ROPEE, yet doses exceeding adult doses are in use throughout Aotearoa NZ and Australian units. We know from this dataset that neonates are experiencing unwanted and potentially preventable, adverse effects associated with mydriatics, and every effort should be made to minimize this risk. Key Points


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Young

Four published memoirs refute culturally dominant ideas about severe mental illness as personal weakness, as something shameful, and as a condition that necessarily leads to isolation and disenfranchisement. The narrative structure and content of the memoirs reveal that people’s experience differs from the hegemonic discourse: while narrating symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and acceptance of the illness, all four authors present themselves as accomplished, self-possessed, and socially integrated. Their memoirs, and the act of narrating their experiences with mental illness, challenge the established cultural discourse of mental illness as limitation. The narratives help change that discourse and our social attitudes toward people with mental illness.


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