Other Titles
Australian Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Units’ Mental Health Nurses’ attitudes towards consumers with mental illness: A survey analysis [Title Slide]
Abstract
Negative attitudes towards mental illness are a global issue for discrimination towards people with mental illness. Literature has identified various dimensions of stigma. Among the different dimensions, professional stigma prevents people from seeking and accessing help, which further increases mental health-related suffering in the community. Despite providing professional care to consumers, negative attitudes towards mental health conditions are evident even among Mental Health Nurses [MHNs] working in acute inpatient psychiatric units. At the same time, there is a lack of research addressing Australian acute inpatient psychiatric units’ MHNs' attitudes towards mental illness. Therefore, this study aims to assess Australian acute inpatient psychiatric units’ MHNs’ views towards mental ill health. This study used a survey design to assess MHNs’ attitudes using the Mental Illness Clinicians’ Attitude version-4 [MICA-v4] scale. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology [STROBE] statement is used to report the quality of this survey. The results revealed that overall, MHNs showed positive views towards mental illness, with a requirement of an enhancement in the attitudes towards the recovery of people with mental illness, disclosure about mental illness and safety of the public from mentally unwell. Moreover, nurses’ qualifications, years of experience and gender positively correlated with items 2, 5 and 8 of the questionnaires. Future research is required to focus on the development of exemplary anti-stigma strategies to maintain positive attitudes as well as the enhancement of negative attitudes among MHNs. The results of this study may inform the policy makers and researchers to develop anti-stigma strategies to enhance or maintaining the positives attitudes of MHNs nationally.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Acute Care, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Mental Health Stigma, Australia
Recommended Citation
Sreeram, Anju, "Australian Mental Health Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Consumers With Mental Illness: A Survey Analysis" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 136.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/136
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Australian Mental Health Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Consumers With Mental Illness: A Survey Analysis
Seattle, Washington, USA
Negative attitudes towards mental illness are a global issue for discrimination towards people with mental illness. Literature has identified various dimensions of stigma. Among the different dimensions, professional stigma prevents people from seeking and accessing help, which further increases mental health-related suffering in the community. Despite providing professional care to consumers, negative attitudes towards mental health conditions are evident even among Mental Health Nurses [MHNs] working in acute inpatient psychiatric units. At the same time, there is a lack of research addressing Australian acute inpatient psychiatric units’ MHNs' attitudes towards mental illness. Therefore, this study aims to assess Australian acute inpatient psychiatric units’ MHNs’ views towards mental ill health. This study used a survey design to assess MHNs’ attitudes using the Mental Illness Clinicians’ Attitude version-4 [MICA-v4] scale. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology [STROBE] statement is used to report the quality of this survey. The results revealed that overall, MHNs showed positive views towards mental illness, with a requirement of an enhancement in the attitudes towards the recovery of people with mental illness, disclosure about mental illness and safety of the public from mentally unwell. Moreover, nurses’ qualifications, years of experience and gender positively correlated with items 2, 5 and 8 of the questionnaires. Future research is required to focus on the development of exemplary anti-stigma strategies to maintain positive attitudes as well as the enhancement of negative attitudes among MHNs. The results of this study may inform the policy makers and researchers to develop anti-stigma strategies to enhance or maintaining the positives attitudes of MHNs nationally.