Beliefs of Nursing Students For Mental Illnesses

Background: Mental Illness and against patients; families, community, health workers are in negative beliefs. This situation; The patients and their families may cause the patients and their families to feel themselves worthless. The positive beliefs of mental health among health workers will positively affect the support of the patient and the family in the treatment process. Purpose: This study was performed on the purpose of determining the beliefs of first grader and senior students of nursing for mental illnesses. Method: The study was performed descriptively with 224 students who receive education in Near East University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department in the 2014-2015 fall semester. Personal Information Form and Scale of Beliefs for Mental Illnesses (SBMI) were used in the collection of the data. Chi square analysis, t test in Independent Groups and One-Way Variance analysis were performed respectively for crosstabs, in the comparison of the scale with two option questions and for the variables with more than two options. Findings: When the classes that students received education and their SBMI total scores were compared; despair and deterioration in interpersonal relations and the SBMI total score averages were significantly higher in the senior students comparing to the 1st graders and it was determined that they had negative beliefs about mental illnesses (p<0.05). It was determined that the students received 48.71±14.91 from the SBMI’s total score average, 21.00±6.07 from dangerousness subscale total score average, 25.92±9.96 from despair and interpersonal relationships subscale total score average, and 1.80±2.60 from shame subscale total score average; and it was determined that they had positive beliefs for individuals with mental diseases. Conclusion: It was seen that the students had positive beliefs for mental diseases; however it was concluded that even the students who want to work as psychiatric nurses had negative attitudes in regard to despair related to patients and deterioration in interpersonal relationships