Attitudes of pharmacy and non-pharmacy students towards mental illness in Nigeria: a comparative survey

Abstract

Our findings suggest that students' attitudes towards mental illness were positive but sub-optimal. Student pharmacists demonstrated more positive attitudes towards mental illness compared with non-pharmacy students. However, the major contributors to positive attitudes were male gender, older age, a previous visit to a mental hospital and having a close associate with a mental illness. Therefore, educational interventions addressing students' misconceptions of mental illness are recommended.