Lawyers ’ beliefs about mental illnesses and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses

AbstractPurposeThis descriptive study determined lawyers ’ beliefs about mental illnesses and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses.Design and MethodsThe sample consisted of 181 lawyers. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the Beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale (BMI), and the Stigma Scale (SS).FindingsParticipants felt compassion, uneasiness, curiosity, and pity for people with mental illnesses. Participants had a mean BMI and SS score of 1.99  ± 0.70 and 2.19 ± 0.61, respectively. Their BMI and SS scores were moderately and positively correlated (r = 0.554)Practice İmplicationsLawyers should be informed about mental illness by courses within the context of health education in law schools ’ curricula. Future studies should focus on other community leaders’ beliefs about mental illness and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses.
Source: Perspectives in Psychiatric Care - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research