Table 3 Distribution of participants (n = 411) by their response to internalized stigma of mental illness scale at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, 2012
Items of ISMI subscale | Strongly disagree | Disagree | Agree | Strongly agree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | |
Alienation | ||||
I feel out of place in the world because I have a mental illness | 18(4.4) | 243(59.1) | 141(34.3) | 9(2.2) |
I am embarrassed or ashamed that I have a mental illness | 22(5.4) | 171(41.6) | 196(47.6) | 22(5.4) |
I feel inferior to others who don’t have a mental illness | 5(1.2) | 204(49.6) | 181(44) | 21(5.1) |
I am disappointed in myself for having a mental illness | 7(1.7) | 172(41.8) | 205(49.9) | 27(6.6) |
People without mental illness could not possibly understand me | 7(1.7) | 260(63.3) | 131(31.9) | 13(3.2) |
Having a mental illness has spoiled my life. | 4(1) | 197(49.9) | 169(41.1) | 41(10) |
Stereotype endorsement | ||||
Stereotypes about the mentally ill apply to me | 8(1.9) | 96(23.4) | 294(71.5) | 13(3.2) |
I can’t contribute anything to society because I have a mental illness | 25(6.1) | 341(83) | 42(10.2) | 3(0.7) |
Because I have a mental illness, I need others to make most decisions for me | 33(8) | 298(72.5) | 74(18) | 6(1.5) |
People can tell that I have a mental illness by the way I look | 30(7.3) | 202(49.1) | 163(39.7) | 16(3.9) |
People with mental illness cannot live a good, rewarding life | 14(3.4) | 285(69.3) | 98(23.8) | 14(3.4) |
Mentally ill people tend to be violent | 5(1.2) | 76(18.5) | 309(75.2) | 21(5.1) |
Mentally ill people shouldn’t get married | 68(16.5) | 277(67.4) | 62(15.1) | 4(1) |
Discrimination experience | ||||
People often patronize me, or treat me like a child, just because I have a mental illness | 30(7.3) | 202(49.1) | 170(41.4) | 9(2.2) |
People ignore me or take me less seriously just because I have a mental illness | 18(4.4) | 185(45) | 193(47) | 15(3.6) |
Others think that I can’t achieve much in life because I have a mental illness | 14(3.4) | 156(38) | 233(56.7) | 8(1.9) |
Nobody would be interested in getting close to me because I have a mental illness | 20(4.9) | 263(64) | 122(29.7) | 6(1.5) |
People discriminate against me because I have a mental illness | 15(3.6) | 205(49.9) | 163(39.7) | 28(6.8) |
Social withdrawal | ||||
I stay away from social situations in order to protect my family or friends from embarrassment | 11(2.7) | 237(57.7) | 158(38.4) | 5(1.2) |
Being around people who don’t have a mental illness makes me feel out of place or inadequate | 16(3.9) | 230(56) | 160(38.9) | 5(1.2) |
I don’t socialize as much as I used to because my mental illness might make me look or behave “weird” | 11(2.7) | 184(44.8) | 210(51.1) | 6(1.5) |
I avoid getting close to people who don’t have a mental illness to avoid rejection | 9(2.2) | 210(51.1) | 189(46) | 3(0.7) |
I don’t talk about myself much because I don’t want to burden others with my mental illness | 5(1.2) | 185(45) | 215(52.3) | 6(1.5) |
Negative stereotypes about mental illness keep me isolated from the “normal” world | 10(2.4) | 153(37.2) | 218(53) | 30(7.3) |
Stigma resistance | ||||
I feel comfortable being seen in public with an obviously mentally ill person | 16(3.9) | 161(39.2) | 210(51.1) | 24(5.8) |
People with mental illness make important contributions to society | 3(0.8) | 26(6.4) | 363(88.2) | 19(4.6) |
Living with mental illness has made me a tough survivor | 12(2.9) | 210(51.1) | 176(42.8) | 13(3.2) |
In general, I am able to live my life the way I want to | 26(6.3) | 249(60.6) | 129(31.4) | 7(1.7) |
I can have a good, fulfilling life, despite my mental illness | 25(6.1) | 244(59.4) | 140(34) | 2(0.5) |