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Community Attitudes Towards Discriminatory Practice Against People with Severe Mental Illness in Hong Kong

Author

Listed:
  • Marcus Y.L. Chiu

    (Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; mchiu@hkbu.edu.hk)

  • Kenneth K.L. Chan

    (Department of Government and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University)

Abstract

Background: The existing literature on community attitudes towards people with severe mental illness (SMI) tends to be rather general and impressionistic, with apparently conflicting findings which have yet to be adequately understood. Aims: This article undertakes to examine the community's level of tolerance towards discriminatory practice against people with SMI in three domains: family relations, employment and health care. Methods: Structured interviews with a representative sample of 507 citizens were carried out using the computer-assisted telephone interview system (CATI). Results: Our survey reveals some expected common misunderstandings about mental illness, with the older age group showing the greatest toleration towards discrimination. However, respondents showed a strong objection to discriminatory behaviour which people with SMI commonly face in health care and employment, whereas greater toleration towards discrimination was found in the family domain. Conclusions: The coexistence of misunderstandings about mental illness and public rejection of discriminatory practice against people with SMI suggests that community attitudes are multi-dimensional and more amendable than expected. The findings of this study call for target-specific educational strategies for community education, as well as accompanying policy initiatives to end discriminatory practice, if people with SMI are to be truly taken as our fellow citizens.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus Y.L. Chiu & Kenneth K.L. Chan, 2007. "Community Attitudes Towards Discriminatory Practice Against People with Severe Mental Illness in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 53(2), pages 159-174, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:53:y:2007:i:2:p:159-174
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764006074556
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kee-Lee Chou & Ki-Yan Mak & Po-Kin Chung & David Chan & Kimmy Ho, 1996. "Attitudes Towards Mental Patients in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 42(3), pages 213-219, September.
    2. Li-Yu Song & Ly-Yun Chang & Chaiw-Yi Shih & Chih-Yuan Lin & Ming-Jeng Yang, 2005. "Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill: The Results of a National Survey of the Taiwanese Population," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(2), pages 162-176, June.
    3. Markku Ojanen, 1992. "Attitudes Towards Mental Patients," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 38(2), pages 120-130, June.
    4. Albrecht, Gary L. & Walker, Vivian G. & Levy, Judith A., 1982. "Social distance from the stigmatized : A test of two theories," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 16(14), pages 1319-1327, January.
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