Frontiers in Psychiatry (Jan 2020)
Stigmatizing Attitudes Towards Mental Disorders Among Non-Mental Health Professionals in Six General Hospitals in Hunan Province
- Qiuxia Wu,
- Qiuxia Wu,
- Qiuxia Wu,
- Qiuxia Wu,
- Qiuxia Wu,
- Qiuxia Wu,
- Xiaoyang Luo,
- Shubao Chen,
- Shubao Chen,
- Shubao Chen,
- Shubao Chen,
- Shubao Chen,
- Chang Qi,
- Chang Qi,
- Chang Qi,
- Chang Qi,
- Chang Qi,
- Winson Fu Zun Yang,
- Yanhui Liao,
- Yanhui Liao,
- Yanhui Liao,
- Yanhui Liao,
- Yanhui Liao,
- Xuyi Wang,
- Xuyi Wang,
- Xuyi Wang,
- Xuyi Wang,
- Xuyi Wang,
- Jinsong Tang,
- Jinsong Tang,
- Jinsong Tang,
- Jinsong Tang,
- Jinsong Tang,
- Yiyuan Tang,
- Tieqiao Liu,
- Tieqiao Liu,
- Tieqiao Liu,
- Tieqiao Liu,
- Tieqiao Liu
Affiliations
- Qiuxia Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Qiuxia Wu
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Qiuxia Wu
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Qiuxia Wu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Qiuxia Wu
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Qiuxia Wu
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Xiaoyang Luo
- Female Psychiatric Ward, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Hengyang City, Hengyang, China
- Shubao Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Shubao Chen
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Shubao Chen
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Shubao Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Shubao Chen
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chang Qi
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chang Qi
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Chang Qi
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Chang Qi
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Chang Qi
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Winson Fu Zun Yang
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Yanhui Liao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Yanhui Liao
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Yanhui Liao
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Yanhui Liao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Yanhui Liao
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xuyi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xuyi Wang
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Xuyi Wang
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Xuyi Wang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Xuyi Wang
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Jinsong Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Jinsong Tang
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Jinsong Tang
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Jinsong Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Jinsong Tang
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Yiyuan Tang
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Tieqiao Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Tieqiao Liu
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Tieqiao Liu
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Tieqiao Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Tieqiao Liu
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00946
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 10
Abstract
Background: There have been few studies on the stigma associated with mental disorders among non-mental health professionals in general hospitals in China. This study seeks to explore mental health-related stigma and the desire for social distance among non-mental health professionals in general hospitals in Hunan Province in China.Methods: The study was carried out with 1123 non-mental health professionals in six general hospitals in Hunan Province by using a questionnaire with a case vignette describing either schizophrenia, depression, or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Questions were asked about the attitudes of participants and other people towards individuals with mental disorders and the willingness to come into contact with them.Results: The people described in the vignette were considered dangerous by 84.4% of participants for schizophrenia, 72.0% of participants for depression, and 63.1% of participants for GAD. Besides being dangerous, people with schizophrenia were perceived as unpredictable and as the least suitable for voting for as a politician or employing. Around 50% of participants believed the problems described in the vignette were due to personal weakness. Over 70% of the non-mental health professionals were not willing to have the people described in the vignette marry into their family. The participants had gained their mental health-related knowledge mainly through the media, mostly from newspapers.Conclusions: The current study found a significant stigma towards individuals with mental disorders and a desire for social distance from such people among non-mental health professionals in general hospitals in Hunan Province. Anti-stigma interventions should focus on addressing non-mental health professionals' beliefs on dangerousness and unpredictability.
Keywords
- non-mental health professionals
- stigma
- social distance
- schizophrenia
- depression
- general anxiety disorder
