Attitudes towards mental illness

This chapter explores 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. Attitudes are analysed in relation to a range of socio-economic characteristics, and by people’s knowledge and experience of mental illness. 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 than to tolerance and support for community care, with mean scores of 76 and 71 respectively among all adults. Women consistently had significantly less prejudiced and more tolerant views than men. Women’s mean score on prejudice and exclusion was 78, compared with 73 for men; the equivalent scores on tolerance and support for community care were 72 and 69. Attitudes towards mental illness varied according to age, with different patterns for the two factors. People aged 35-64 held the least prejudiced views (scores 77-79), while the most prejudiced attitudes were held by participants aged 65 and over (65-73). Attitudes relating to tolerance and support for community care were least positive among younger participants aged 16-34 (65-69), and were at a broadly equal level among participants from the age of 35 and over (71-74). Attitudes towards mental illness were associated with socio-economic indicators. Those living in the lowest income households or the most deprived areas were least likely to hold positive views in relation to prejudice and exclusion and to tolerance and support for community care. Scores on prejudice and exclusion ranged from 75 among women in lowest income households to 82 in the highest income households, compared with 69-76 among men. There was a similar pattern for scores on tolerance and support for community care; and these ranges were also very similar according to quintiles of area deprivation. Attitudes varied according to the highest level of educational qualification achieved. The least prejudiced and most tolerant attitudes were held by those with at least degree level education (79-83 for prejudice and exclusion, 72-76 for tolerance and support for community care). Those with no qualifications held the least positive attitudes (66-71 for both prejudice and exclusion and for tolerance and support for community care). There was also variation according to employment status. Those in employment held the most positive attitudes towards prejudice and exclusion (81 for women, 75 for men), while the least positive attitudes about prejudice and exclusion were held by retired participants (74 for women and 70 for men). In contrast, retired participants were the most positive on tolerance and support for community care (73 for both 3 Summary