The World Psychiatric Association promotes global anti-stigma programs. However, evaluation research is crucial to developing effective programs. The present study examined the effects of a lecture on mental health on public attitudes towards mental illness. Subjects were recruited from individuals employed by private companies and the government. Attitudes towards mental illness were measured using the Mental Illness and Disorder Understanding Scale developed by the authors and the Scale of Negative Attitudes Towards the Independence of People with Mental Disorders. Test scores obtained before and after the lecture were compared. The results demonstrated that scores on both scales improved significantly. The present study suggests the effectiveness of this type of educational program in reducing stigma attached to mental illness and disorder.

Aim:  The present study was conducted to identify factors contributing to burden of care in 57 mothers caring for patients with schizophrenia. Methods:  Members of the Federation of Families of People with Mental Illness in Nagasaki Prefecture were evaluated using well‐validated scales to evaluate burden of care (eight‐item short version of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview), general health status (General Health Questionnaire 12‐item version), difficulty in life, coping strategies, emotional support, and understanding of mental illness and disorders. Results:  Burden of care was significantly associated with general health status and difficulty in life. Conclusion:  On multiple regression it was found that ‘social interests’ and ‘resignation’, both of which are the subscales of coping strategies, exerted significant and independent effects with respect to burden of care.

This study attempted to identify forms of stigma against individuals with mental disorders and related factors. The subjects comprised 2632 people living in the area covered by the K health center in N prefecture. Factor analysis of the Mental Disorder Prejudice Scale (1211 valid responses) identified three factors: 'rejection', 'peculiarity' and 'human rights alienation'. Regression analysis revealed that age, welfare activities, an active problem-solving attitude, lecture attendance, and previous contact, exerted independent effects with respect to 'rejection'. These results suggest the importance of disseminating accurate information and creating more opportunities for people to have meaningful interactions with people with mental disorders in order to dispell the stigma.

Although administrative bodies such as community health centers have implemented various awareness campaigns to promote community understanding of mental health and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and disorder, there have been few reports that have quantitatively analyzed the effects of these campaigns in Japan. Therefore, this study was conducted for the purpose of developing the evaluative “Mental Illness and Disorder Understanding Scale (MIDUS)” for awareness campaigns and assessing its reliability and validity. A survey was conducted on 1 004 community residents using a self‐administered questionnaire. An assessment of the reliability and validity of the scale was then conducted. The Cronbach a coefficient of the MIDUS was 0.78, thus indicating adequate reliability. Factor analysis of the MIDUS revealed three factors: “Treatability of illness”, “Efficacy of medication” and “Social recognition of illness”. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the MIDUS and existing scales, and fixed criterion‐based validity was demonstrated. The MIDUS utilizes items worded in the form of affirmative expressions so as to avoid promoting new bias. It was confirmed to be both reliable and valid, thereby suggesting its usefulness as an evaluative scale of awareness campaigns.

Aim: With the current shift to community-centered mental health services, considerable research on the family burden of caring for patients with schizophrenia has been conducted in developed countries. However, there has been no investigation of families with Japanese or Korean sociocultural backgrounds. Therefore, the present study compared the caregiver burden and coping strategies of families of patients with schizophrenia in Japan and Korea in order to elucidate similarities and differences in the sociocultural factors that affect the care experience of families in Northeast Asia.Methods: A total of 99 Japanese (Nagasaki) and 92 Korean (Seoul, Daegu) family members of patients with schizophrenia were surveyed in regards to caregiver burden, coping strategies, and nursing awareness of the caregiver role regarding the patient with schizophrenia.Results: Analysis revealed the following: (i) although no difference in caregiver burden and coping strategy was observed between the countries, the nursing awareness of families' caregiver role was significantly higher in Japan than in Korea; (ii) caregiver burden was significantly associated with the patient's social functioning and care needs in both countries; and (iii) caregiver burden was significantly associated with reduction of social interests, coercion, avoidance, resignation, and nursing awareness of caregiver role in both countries. Conclusion:Although the nursing awareness of families' roles in caring for patients with schizophrenia differed between Japan and Korea, similar trends were observed for the causes of caregiver burden. These findings suggest that in order to provide effective support for reducing caregiver burden, the necessity of such support must be emphasized in both countries.