PERCEPTION ABOUT

GENERAL AWARNESS
OF MENTAL ILLNESS
GROUP A2

MUHAMMAD ASIF NAZIR (GL)

HADIQA SIDDIQUE

HASSAN JAMAL

AYESHA JABEEN

FARWA ANJUM

SABIKA AFTAB

NAZIA HASHMI

AMSA KHAN

MADIHA JAMEEL

MISHA WAMIQ

HIBA NADEEM

RIMSHA

MARIUM KHAN

MARIA EJAZ
 ABSTRACT:
Background:
Although the benefits of public awareness of physical disease is widely accepted
but the knowledge about mental disease has been comparatively neglected.

Objective:
To assess the perception & attitude of mental illness among general population of
KARACHI

Methodology:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample size of 400 people, sample was
taken through non-probability purposive method and from all the five districts of
Karachi and people of different walks of life; Medical students, engineering
students, school students, doctors & drivers. The study was conducted within a
period of 08 months ranging from March to October 2014.Pilot study was
conducted to assess the validity of questionnaire, a structured questionnaire was
then distributed and got filled. SPSS version 16 was used for data entry with 95%
confidence interval, margin of error 5% and P-value 0.05
as statistically significant.

Result:
knowledge mental illness among general public was quite poor and suggests the
need for strong emphasis on public education to increase mental health literacy.

Conclusion:
an increase in mental health literacy in the population may assist prevention, early
intervention, and support of others in the community.

Keywords:
perception + general awareness +attitude + mental illness.

INTRODUCTION:
Throughout the world, there is increasing awareness of mental illness as a
significant cause of morbidity. People with a mental illness can be among the most
disadvantaged in society, and many confront barriers as a direct result of their
illness. Cognitive and communication impairments may pose challenges, while
stigma and discriminatory attitudes can be worse than the illness itself.

Discrimination and stigma can create barriers to recovery for people with mental
illness. Peoples beliefs and attitudes toward mental illness set the stage for how
they interact with, provide opportunities for, and help support a person with mental
illness. Attitudes and beliefs about mental illness are shaped by personal
knowledge, knowing and interacting with someone living with mental illness,
cultural stereotypes, and other factors.

Stigma has been described as "a cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that
motivate the general public to fear, reject, avoid, and discriminate against people
with mental illnesses" . When stigma leads to social exclusion or discrimination,
whether from mental illness or some other condition, it results in unequal access to
resources that all people need to function well, adversely affecting quality of life

This report examines individual attitudes toward mental illness to highlight

subgroups that might benefit from educational programs and services.

METHODOLOGY:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample size of 400 people, sample was
taken through non-probability purposive method and from all the five districts of
Karachi and people of different walks of life; Medical students, engineering
students, school students, doctors & drivers. The study was conducted within a
period of 08 months ranging from March to October 2014.Pilot study was
conducted to assess the validity of questionnaire, a structured questionnaire was
then distributed and got filled. SPSS version 16 was used for data entry with 95%
confidence interval, margin of error 5% and P-value 0.05
as statistically significant.

RESULT:
Out of 400 PARTICIPANTS, 67% (p=0.000) of the people believed that mentally ill
people were harmful which agreement to medical viewpoint. 89% (p=0.000) of
the people believed that mental illness could affect relationship between patient
and family. This however was true as people try to refrain from them.72.5%
(p=0.012) of the people believed that our society did not accept mentally ill
people. This was due to general perception that these people could cause harm to
humans and their assets. 87.5% (p=0.001) of the people believed that mentally ill
people needed help from their family and acquaintances. Receiving love and
affection from people closer to heart helped in early recovery. 88% (p=0.000) of
the people believed that mental health was important for a healthy perfect life.
84% (0.002) of the people believed that the negative attitude of society or family
will hinder the recovery of mentally ill persons.

FREQUENCY TABLE
S.# QUESTION PROMPT YES% NO% MEAN P- VALUES CI 95%

UPPERRANGE LOWERRANGE

1 It is caused by evil spirits 21.2 74.5 0.004 2.306 1.354

(BHOOT)?
2 These patients are harmful? 67 24.8 0.000 1.441 1.37

3 Mental illnesses can effects 89.0 6.0 1.83 0.000 1.184 1.136
relationship between
patients & family members?

4 Do you think mental illness is 82.2 13.5 1.41 0.001 1.245 1.195
a disease (bimari)?

5 Do you think marriage can 21.0 61.2 1.16 0.004 2.001 1.939
treat the mental illness?

6 Do you think society/family 84.0 11.0 1.22 0.002 1.235 1.185

NEGATIVE attitude can affect
recovery of mentally ill
person?

7 Do you think it is A serious 83.2 10.5 1.97 0.002 1.257 1.203

problem?

8 Mental health is important 88.0 7.2 1.4 0.000 1.297 1.246

for healthy life?

9 Our society accepts these 17.2 72.5 1.23 0.012 1.982 1.878
patients?

10 Should govt. take these 79.8 12.0 0.001 1.31 1.25

issues seriously?

FREQUENCY ABOUT GENERAL AWARENCE

OF PUBLIC ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS.
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION :
1. Do you think it is caused by evil spirits (BHOOT)?
 80
70
60
50
40 YES
30 NO
20 DNK
10
0
Do you think it is caused by
evil sprits or bhoot?

2. DO U THINK THESE PATIENTS ARE HARMFUL?

70
60
50
40 YES
30
NO
20
DNK
10
0
Do you think these pateints
are harmfull

3. Do you think parents fight affect childrens mental health?

100
80
60
YES
40
NO
20
DNK
0
Do you think parents fight
affect childrens mental
health

4. Do you think mental illness is a disease (bimari)?

 100

80

60
YES
40 NO
20 DNK

0
Do you think mental illness
is a disease or bimari

5. Do you think marriage can treat the mental illness?

70
60
50
40 YES
30
NO
20
DNK
10
0
Do you think marriage can
treate the mental illnes?

6. Do you think society/family NEGATIVE attitude can affect recovery of mentally ill person?

100
80
60
40
20 YES
0 NO
Do you thinks family's or DNK
societies negative
attitude affects the
recovery of mentally ill
person?

7. Do YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE NEED OUR HELP?

 100

80

60
YES
40 NO
20 DNK

0
Do you think these people
need our help?

8. Do you think it is A serious problem?

100

80

60
YES
40 NO
20 DNK

0
Do you think it is a serious
problem?

9. Do you think mental health is important for healthy perfect life?

90
80
70
60
50
40 YES
30 NO
20
10 DNK
0
Do you think mental health is
important for healthy perfect
life?

10. Do you think OUR SOCIETY ACCEPTS THESE PATIENTS?

 80
70
60
50
40 YES
30 NO
20 DNK
10
0
Do you think our society
accepts these patients?

11. SHOULD GOVT. TAKE THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY?

80
70
60
50
40 YES
30 NO
20 DNK
10
0
Should govt. take these issues
seriously?
 DISCUSSION;
The study has been confined out to assess the level of perception and attitude of
general public towards mentally ill people. . Our sample contained a higher
proportion of university graduates than the population as a whole. [1]

This baseline survey has shown that there is a high level of contact with people
with mental health problems which may reflect a high prevalence of disorder, poor
services or the community's acceptance of mentally ill people, or a combination of
all three, and warrants further investigation. [1]

Social perceptions of mental health problem s are dominated by negative

stereotypes. [2]Attitudes and beliefs concerning mental health are influenced by a
lack of knowledge as well as a mix of traditional and modern views. [3]People
with mental health problems might be seen solely in terms of their health
problems, regardless of their overall contribution to society, and may be seen as
incompetent and dependent on others. [2] The finding that people with low
education levels had a more positive attitude towards mental illnesses than did
respondents with higher education levels is in contradiction with many studies
suggesting that positive attitudes towards mental patients are related to higher
education levels. Thus, more knowledge of mental illnesses seems to decrease the
willingness to engage in social relationships with mentally ill people. [3]
Attitudes towards mental illness are very mixed, with large proportions of the
population holding stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental illness in
relation to treatment, work, marriage and recovery. The majority put the blame on
the afflicted individual, avoided contact with them and would not openly discuss
their own psychological problems. [1] Individuals with mental health problems
have much lower rates of employment than the general population, despite their
willingness to work. This may be due to the greater levels of stigma and prejudice
they face. [2]

On the other hand, the population did have a fairly reasonable understanding of the
etiology of mental illness, citing genetic factors, negative life events, brain disease
and substance abuse as key causes although evil spirits were also viewed as major
factors., Understanding of the nature of mental illness, its implications for social
participation and management remains negative in general. However the majority
accept patients' rights and the view that patients can be managed outside hospital,
admit that the services at the PHC level are poor and would welcome developing
such services. Social distance was associated with higher educational level,
wanting to hide a mental illness problem from the family and not wanting to allow
a person with mental illness to take their own decisions. [1]

REFERENCES:
[1]: Public perception of mental health in Iraq

Sabah Sadik1, Marie Bradley2, Saad Al-Hasoon1 and Rachel Jenkins3*

[2]: Countering the stigmatization and discrimination of people with mental health problems in
Europe. by David McDaid.

[3]: Perceptions of Mental Health and Help-Seeking Behavior in an Urban Community in

Vietnam: An Explorative Study.

Lia van der Ham,corresponding author1 Pamela Wright,2 Thang Vo Van,3 Vuong D. K. Doan,3
and Jacqueline E. W. Broerse1

CONCLUSION:
After conducting a thorough research on perception and awareness on mental health it is
concluded that general public is highly aware of pros and cons of the disease. They are also
aware about medical treatment, behavioral therapy and cognitive support to be given to the
mentally ill patients. It is however established that general public understanding about the
disease is in-line with medical sciences standpoint.

REFERENCES:
1) Mass Media and Mental Illness: A Literature Review Prepared by Dara Roth Edney, MSW.
 2) Labelingstereotype discrimination by Prof. Dr. Matthias C. Angermeyer, Herbert
Matschinger,

3) The views and experiences of severely mentally ill mothers Dr. Angeles Diaz-Caneja Sonia
Johnson)

4) How StigmaInterferes With Mental Health Care.Corrigan, Patrick

American Psychologist, Vol 59(7), Oct 2004, 614-625.

5) Mental Illness in Society Caroline Carney Doebbeling, MD, MSc

6) Violence by people with mental illness: A consensus statement by advocates and

researchers. Monahan, John; Arnold, Jean

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 19(4), 1996, 67- 70.

7) Perceived risks associated with mental illness: Beyond homicide and suicide by:Tony Ryan

8) Family Views of Stigma.W whall, Otto F.; Harman, Charles R

9) Persistent and Severely Mentally Ill Clients' Perceptions of Their Mental Illness by:
Barbara A. Vellenga, and Janell Christenson

10) Dispelling the Myth of Violence and Mental Illness by: John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

11) mental health: a friend, a home, a job :by Dr. Taylor Alexander, Chief Executive Officer

12) Perception of the public towards the mentally ill in developed Asian country by Siow
Ann Chong MBBS, Mmed, Swapna Verma MBBS, MD Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar MSc, Yiong Huak
Chan PhD (Math), Lai Yin Wong BA (SocSc), Bee Hoon Heng MBBS, MSc (PH), FAMS)
 13) Families of the Mentally Ill: Coping and Adaptation edited by Agnes B. Hatfield, Harriet P.
Lefley

14) Mental disorder and violent behavior: Perceptions and evidence.by: Monahan, John
American Psychologist, Vol 47(4), Apr 1992, 511-521.

15 ) Children's beliefs about people labeled mentally ill. Adler, Ann K.; Wahl, Otto F.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol 68(2), Apr 1998, 321-326

15) labeling mental illnes by sarah rosenfield

16) Mental illness stigma: Concepts, consequences, and initiatives to reduce stigma by:Nicolas
Rsch, Matthias C. Angermeyer, Patrick W. Corrigan)

17) Familiarity with mental illness and social distance from people with schizophrenia and major
depression: testing a model using data from a representative population survey

By Matthias C AngermeyerHerbert Matschinge Patrick W Corrigan

18) Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness by: PATRICK W CORRIGAN and AMY C
WATSON

19 Factors Influencing Social Distance Toward People with Mental Illness Christoph
Lauber, Carlos Nordt, Luis Falcato, Wulf Rssler

20) Perception and beliefs about mental illness among adults in Karfi village,
northern Nigeria by:Mohammed Kabir1, Zubair Iliyasu1, Isa S Abubakar1 and Muktar H Aliyu

21) Students' perception about mental illness

RK Mahto1, PK Verma2, AN Verma1, AR Singh3, S Chaudhury4, K Shantna

22 ) perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital setting

by: Thandisizwe Redford Mavundla PhD
 23 ) contact with mentally ill and perception how dangerous they are : by bruce
G.Link and francis T.cullen

24) Familiarity With and Social Distance From People Who Have Serious Mental Illness Patrick W.
Corrigan, Psy.D.; Amy Green; Robert Lundin; Mary Ann Kubiak; David L. Penn, Ph.D

25) The growing belief that people with mental illnesses are violent: the role of the
dangerousness criterion for civil commitment J. C. Phelan, B. G. Link

26) Public beliefs about and attitudes towards people with mental illness: a review of
population studies by:M. C. Angermeyer and S. Dietrich

27) The stigma of mental illness: effects of labelling on public attitudes towards people with
mental disorder by: M. C. Angermeyer and H. Matschinger

28 )Siever LJ. "Neurobiology of Aggression and Violence," American Journal of Psychiatry

QUESTIONNAIRE:
Name: - Age: - Gender:-

Marital status: - level of education:- A.Iliterate B.Primary C.Middle D.Matric E.More

Occupation:- Telephone:- House:-

Q#1: Do you think it is caused by evil spirits (BHOOT)?

a) Yes

b) No

Q#2: Do you think it is caused by Jin?

a)Yes

b)No

C)DNK

Q#3: Do you think these people goes in control of jinnat?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#4: Do you know if somebody is aggressive and by taking a tablet calms down?

a)YES

b)No

c)DNK

Q#5: Do you know somebody who can be easily irritated and get abusive?

a)Yes.

b)No

c)DNK

Q#6: Do you think these people are malingering to get attention?

a) Yes.

b) No.

c)DNK

Q#7: Do you think Moulvi,peer, Faqir and other people in shrine can treat these patients?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#8: Do you think these people are harmful?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#9: Do you think parents fight affect childrens mental health?

 a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#10: Do you think mental illness CAN effects relationship between patients and family members?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK

Q#11: Do you think mental illness is a disease (bimari)?

a) Yes.

b) No

c)DNK

Q#12: Do you think these people be locked at HOME/HOSPITAL until they recovered?

a) Yes

b) No

c) DNK

Q#13: Do you think marriage can treat the mental illness?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK

Q#14: Do you think Females are more affected than Males?

a) Yes

b) No

c) DNK
Q#15: Do you think these patients should be in Mental hospital/Pagalkhana?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK

Q#16: Do you think mental illness is treatable?

a) Yes

b) No

c) DNK

Q#17: Do you think society/family NEGATIVE attitude can affect recovery of mentally ill person?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK

Q#18: Do you think poorness(ghurbat) makes a man mentally ill?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#19: DO you think walking during sleep is a mental issue?

a) Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#20: Do you think these people need our help?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK
Q#21: Do you think it is A serious problem?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK

Q#22: Do you think mental health is important for healthy perfect life?

a)Yes.

b)No

c)DNK

Q#23: Will you continue your relation with him/her normally?

a) Yes

b) No

c) DNK

Q#24: Would you agree helping people with mental illness?

a) Yes

b) No

Q#25: Do you think our society accepts these patients?

a) Yes

b) No

C)DNK

Q#26: Do you think mental illness is same ad DIABETES/HYPERTENSION?

a) Yes

b) No

c)DNK

Q#27: Do you think we should be sympathetic(Rahemdil) to these patients?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#28: Should Government take these issues seriously?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK

Q#29: Do you know any GOVT. Awarenes Program on this problem?

a)Yes

b)No

c)DNK
 GANTTS CHART;

TASK MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OctOBER

Research
proposal
Literature
review
Questionnaire
construction
Pilot study

Data
collection
Data analysis

Research
writing
Research
submission
 Letter of recommendation:
GROUP A2(4th year smc) perception about general
awarence of mental illness.
S. NO NAME ROLL SIGN.
NO.
01 MUHAMMAD ASIF NAZIR (GL) 254

02 HADIQA SIDDIQUE 187

03 HASSAN JAMAL 354

04 AYESHA JABEEN 38

05 FARWA ANJUM 71

06 SABIKA AFTAB 357

07 NAZIA HASHMI 352

08 AMSA KHAN 159

09 MADIHA JAMEEL 352

10 MISHA WAMIQ

11 HIBA NADEEM 360

12 RIMSHA 131

13 MARIUM KHAN 113

14 MARIA EJAZ 69

We group A2, students of 4th year SMC (JSMU) declare that the study
and literature of our research is not copied from any previous
research of any student or from any other source. It has been
conducted and compiled by our group A2..