Attitudes towards mental illness
This chapter presents attitudes among adults aged 16 and over towards mental illness measured by the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale. The CAMI measures attitudes to two factors: prejudice and exclusion; and tolerance and support for community care.
Highlights
Attitudes towards the two factors were scored, and a mean score was calculated for each factor ranging from 0-100, with higher scores representing more positive attitudes (that is, less prejudiced/more tolerant).
- Overall, views were more positive in relation to prejudice and exclusion (score of 76) than to tolerance and support for community care (score of 71).
- Women had less prejudiced and more tolerant views than men. Women’s mean score on prejudice and exclusion was 78, compared with 73 for men. Women’s score on tolerance and support for community care was 72 compared with 69 for men.
- The report found that attitudes towards mental illness were associated with socio-demographic characteristics such as age, region, household income, education and employment status. Attitudes were also related to people’s knowledge and experience of mental illness.