Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 39 No. (1-4), 2007.
Professional paper
Students' attitudes towards mental patients
Marija Čatipović
Vinko Čatipović
Abstract
Stigma signifies a negative denotation of a person diagnosed with a mental illness. It presents a significant impediment to full recovery and resocialisation of a psychiatric patient. Therefore, stigma is not only a psychiatric and medical problem, but also a reflection of maturity, tolerance and humanity of the whole community. The paper closely examines the attitude of young people, students of the School of Nursing and Grammar School in Bjelovar, towards psychiatric patients. Before the research, the examinees acquired basic knowledge in psychiatric diseases and psychiatric patients, by taking a course in Psychiatry, i.e. Psychology, and they also had the experience of a personal contact with psychiatric patients. The results of this research are the following: 1. the connection between fear caused by a psychiatric patient, and stigmatisation, 2. significant stigmatisation in spite of previous education and personal contact with a psychiatric patient, 3. the need for implementation of anti-stigma programs, with the purpose of changing attitudes of the wider community.
Keywords
Stigmatization; Mentally ill persons; Public opinion
Hrčak ID:
191464
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2007.
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