Influences on young people's stigmatising attitudes towards peers with mental disorders: National survey of young Australians and their parents

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the development of stigma towards people with mental disorders. Aims: To investigate stigma in young Australians and the influence of exposure to mental disorders, parental attitudes and information campaigns. Method: A national telephone survey was carried out with 3746 people aged 12-25 years and 2005 co-resident parents. Stigmatising attitudes were assessed in relation to four vignettes (depression, depression with alcohol misuse, social phobia and psychosis). Results: Stigma was found to have multiple components labelled 'social distance', 'dangerous/unpredictable', 'weak not sick', 'stigma perceived in others' and 'reluctance to disclose'. Exposure to m..