ABSTRACT
Background
The social disapproval or stigma surrounding mental illness contributes to the postponement of individuals seeking assistance and frequently undermines therapeutic alliances between mental illness sufferers and health care professionals.
Aims
This study explored perceptions and attitudes towards individuals with mental illness among college healthcare students in Indonesia.
Methods
This study used a qualitative method. Twenty five students enrolled in six healthcare programs were interviewed using a semi structured format. The data analysis adopted a thematic analysis.
Results
Our thematic analysis generated four main themes: (1) general perceptions of mental health and mental illness; (2) knowledge about mental illness; (3) mental health stigma; and (4) mental health stigma campaigns.
Conclusions
The participants exhibited positive perceptions of mentally ill people. Students understood mental health, and they exhibited positive attitudes toward mentally ill people. Some students have stigma and lack of confidence to assist those who have mental illness. Further efforts are required to acquaint students with mental health issues and facilitate their interaction with mentally ill individuals. Anti-stigma campaigns are required to combat the pervasive stigmatization of individuals with mental illness. It is recommended to conduct a more extensive study about the stigma that students encounter in relation to mentally ill individuals.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Muhammad Arsyad Subu
Dr.Muhammad Arsyad Subu is an Assistant Professor in Nursing Department, University Of Sharjah, UAE. Dr. Subu is an adjunct Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Binawan, Jakarta in Indonesia. His specialization is mental health nursing and qualitative methods. His research interests include psychiatric - mental health nursing, community/public health nursing, stigma and mental illness, and nursing education.
Jacqueline Maria Dias
Dr. Jacqueline Maria Dias is an Associate Professor and the Chair of Nursing Department University of Sharjah, UAE. Her specialization are curriculum development and evaluation, clinical teaching oncology, palliative and geriatrics, and simulation in health care professions. Her research interests include curriculum design and evaluation simulation & clinical teaching online and blended learning faculty development inter-professional education.
Richard Mottershead
Dr. Richard Mottershead is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Nursing Department, University Of Sharjah, UAE. His specialization is mental health nursing, armed forces & veterans (Maharib Alqadim) health. His research interests include mental health, psychosocial interventions, psychological therapies, armed forces, and veterans (Maharib Al qadim) health and social care needs.
Fatma Refaat Ahmed
Dr. Fatma Refaat Ahmed is an Assistant Professor in Nursing Department, University of Sharjah, UAE. Her specialization are critical care and emergency nursing. Her research interests include technology in critical care nursing (simulation-based education), safety in critical care units, clinical teaching in critical care units, nursing informatics in critical care units, and critical care haematology nursing.
Sari Narulita
Ms. Sari Narulita is an Assistant Professor in Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing And Midwifery Universitas Binawan Jakarta, Indonesia. She teaches psychiatric-mental health nursing and nursing administration. Her research interests include psychiatry, mental health nursing, and nursing administration and management.
Maryuni Maryuni
Dr. Maryuni Maryuni is an Assistant Professor of Midwifery at Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Universitas Binawan, Jakarta, Indonesia. Her specialization is midwifery and maternal nursing. Her research interests include women health, midwifery, and maternity nursing.
Zakiyah Zakiyah
Ms. Zakiyah Zakiyah is a Lecture in Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Universitas Binawan Jakarta, Indonesia. She teaches psychiatric-mental health nursing. Her research interests include psychiatry and mental health nursing.
Irma Nurbaeti
Dr. Irma Nurbaeti is an Associate Professor in Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta Indonesia. Her specialization is maternity health nursing. Her research interests are related to women health, obstetric gynaecology, and maternal health nursing.
Alounoud Mohamed Al Marzouqi
Dr. Alounoud Mohamed Al Marzouqi is an Assistant Professor in Department of Health Services Administration, College of Health Sciences University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Her specialization is health care management, quality & excellence. Her research interests include leadership, quality, health information management & artificial intelligence
Nabeel Al-Yateem
Dr. Nabeel Al-Yateem is an Associate Professor in Nursing Department University of Sharjah, UAE. His specialization is Children and Adolescents Health Nursing. Dr. Al Yateem’s works are related to healthcare for children with chronic illness, healthcare systems, nursing systems and care services, nursing care frameworks, primary healthcare, community healthcare, school nursing.