NHSIC: Attitudes to Mental Illness - 2011

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Client report
Client report
Published on:
08.06.2011

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This report presents the findings of a survey of attitudes towards mental illness among adults in England undertaken in 2011. Questions on this topic have been asked since 1994.

The questionnaire included a number of statements about mental illness. Respondents were asked to indicate how much they agreed or disagreed with each statement. Other questions covered a range of other topics including descriptions of people with mental illness, relationships with people with mental health problems, personal experience of mental illness, and perceptions of mental health-related stigma and discrimination.

Key facts

The report highlighted some significant changes over time. Some key changes include:

  • The percentage of people agreeing that ‘Mental illness is an illness like any other’ increased from 71% in 1994 (the first year this question was asked) to 77% in 2011, although this figure is little changed in recent years.
  • The percentage saying they would be comfortable talking to a friend or family member about their mental health, for example telling them they had a mental health diagnosis and how it affects them, rose from 66% in 2009 (the first year the question was asked) to 70% in 2011.
  • The percentage saying they would feel uncomfortable talking their employer about their mental health was 43%, compared to 50% in 2010 (the first year this question was asked)

This is a survey report previously published by the Department of Health.

You can find the full report by following the link below:

http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/mental-health/mental-health-act/attitudes-to-mental-illness--2011-survey-report-ns

TNS-BMRB are not responsible for links external to this website. Should these links no longer be useful, the report should be searchable by the ISBN.