Health care students attitudes towards people with schizophrenia : a survey of eight university training programs

Background: Discrimination and stigmatization of people with mental illness are a global andcomplex phenomenon and there is evidence that negative attitudes and discrimination are alsoprevalent among health care staff and health care students. Methods: Attitudes towards peoplewith schizophrenia among 1101 students in eight different university programs providing trainingfor work in the health care and social sectors were explored, using a cross-sectional design.Results: In five of the eight training programs the majority of the students’ perceived people withschizophrenia as a danger to others. In several aspects police students were found to hold morenegative attitudes than students from other programs. Students with previous experiences ofwork in mental health services and students knowing a person with schizophrenia showed morepositive attitudes. Discussion: In order to decrease negative attitudes and prejudices towardspeople with schizophrenia among students, it is essential that the training includes personal contactwith people with experience of being mental illness