Abstract

This study investigated how the family of mentally ill person perceive about social stigma and whether the views of his/her family are different or not in according to diagnosis. It is for the sake of helping about directing establishment of family education in accord that recently family was contained as a member of therapist. A questionnaire was administered to 171 family of mentally ill person divided neurosis, schizophrenia and psychosis patient group except schizophrenia. The results were following. In general, the impact of stigma perceived by respondents, most identified that stigma was moderate level associated with mental illness regardless of diagosis. And, Social stigm seems to be experienced because of their attending the mental hospital rather than by the kind of disgnosis, for there aren't any differences among three groups. Second, the patient got because of stigma, they identified moderate level they had difficult in getting marriage, willingness to admit mental illness, in working a job, ability to make & keep friend and in hurting self-esteem. But, they identified that they hadn't difficult in illness & treatment. This trend didn't affect the diagnosis itself. Third, the parients got because of stigma, they had been little affected by stigma. Only talking about their relative's mental illness to other people identified moderate level. Fourth, as perceived contributors to mental illness stigma, most identified the casual use of terms like "crazy", "psycho" etc, and the defensive attitude of avoiding the insane regardless of idiagnosis. In accordance with diagnosos, only schizophrenia of family saw jokes about mental illness and wrong policy of government about psychiatric hospitals. Except that perceived aids in coping with social stigma produced research findings which establish a biological basis for mental illness and interaction with other families with mentally ill relatives, many respondents said much responding to all items. This result appeared regardless of the sort of diagnosis.