Lawyers’ beliefs about mental illnesses and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses

Abstract

Purpose This descriptive study determined lawyers’ beliefs about mental illnesses and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses. Design and Methods The sample consisted of 181 lawyers. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the Beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale (BMI), and the Stigma Scale (SS). Findings Participants felt compassion, uneasiness, curiosity, and pity for people with mental illnesses. Participants had a mean BMI and SS score of 1.99 ± 0.70 and 2.19 ± 0.61, respectively. Their BMI and SS scores were moderately and positively correlated (r = 0.554) Practice İmplications Lawyers should be informed about mental illness by courses within the context of health education in law schools’ curricula. Future studies should focus on other community leaders’ beliefs about mental illness and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses.