TITLE:
A Community Study on Attitudes to and Knowledge of Mental Illness in Tehran
AUTHORS:
Helia Ghanean, Marzieh Nojomi, Lars Jacobsson
KEYWORDS:
Mental Illness, Public Attitudes, Iran
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.5 No.1,
December
23,
2014
ABSTRACT: There are a limited number
of studies on attitudes towards mental illness and mentally ill from Islamic
countries even though Islam is the second largest of the religious beliefs in
the world. An interesting element in Islamic teaching is the idea that mental
illness as well as other ailments might be an effect of the will of Allah. This
could imply that persons suffering from mental disorders might be less
stigmatized. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes
towards mental illness in the city of Tehran, Iran. Eight hundred subjects,
randomly chosen from 4 districts of Tehran, responded to a modified version of
a questionnaire developed by the World Psychiatric Association to reduce stigma
because of schizophrenia. The self-completed questionnaire was delivered by 4
trained psychologists. The mean age of the sample was 37.5 years and 53.3%
being males. A majority agreed that mental illness could be treated outside the
hospital (70%) and 74% thought that mentally ill “can work in regular jobs”.
Almost half agreed that “mentally ill are a public nuisance” and that “mentally
ill people are dangerous”. One quarter agreed that they “would be ashamed if
people knew someone in the family who was diagnosed with mental illness”.
Generally males seemed to be more accepting than women. Generally the level of
negative attitudes in Tehran population is at the same level as in other
countries and cultures studied. Cultural beliefs and Islamic influence on
attitudes towards mental illness and mentally ill need further studies. The
result indicates a need for further actions to reduce the negative attitudes
towards mentally ill in Tehran, Iran.