Deinstitutionalisation: ex-psychiatric patients perceptions of community attitudes

Abstract

The current trend towards deinstitutionalisation is extremely dependent on positive community attitudes towards mental illness for its success. For this reason ex-psychiatric patients perceptions of community attitudes to mental illness and how these attitudes affect their reintegration into the community are studied here. The study focuses on: What ex-psychiatric patients, social workers and the literature perceive community attitudes to be; ex-psychiatric patients experiences of community attitudes whilst reintegrating into the community; an attempt to understand why negative community attitudes exist, postulating the scapegoat theory: and suggestions regarding how to change these negative attitudes towards people who have a psychiatric disability. Ten ex-psychiatric patients at the Mungavin Avenue Drop-in centre were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. All interviews were taped and provided the major source of data. Eight clients also participated in a group discussion where comments regarding attitudes to mental illness, support from hospital staff, friends, family and neighbours, and consumers living situations and work prospects were noted. Finally, the two social workers involved with the running of the drop-in centre were interviewed using a similar questionnaire. Their opinions on community attitudes and experiences from their involvement with patients re-integration into the community were recorded. The results are presented as an illustration of some of the themes which emerged from the literature and the interviews. The significance of these themes and why they may occur are discussed, and recommendations such as the Government developing educational programmes, especially in schools, and the censorship of films that portray a negative image of people with psychiatric disabilities are made for improving community attitudes.