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Despite the progress in many areas that characterises the 21st century, perceptions of mental illness are going backwards.

Professor Johanna Badcock from the School of Psychology and the Clinical Research Centre at Graylands Hospital, is examining stereotypes and mental illness. She has found that the stigma surrounding mental illness is still a major problem in society. "Society's views of people with psychosis are still very negatively stereotyped," she said. "And research indicates that they are even becoming more negative, despite positive publicity initiatives."

(Psychosis is a severe mental illness, characterised by loss of contact with reality.)

Professor Badcock and A/Professor Milan Dragovic from the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences are working with the North Metropolitan Area Health (Mental Health) Service to combat the negative views.

They have designed and are distributing an online survey on social group stereotypes.

"This is not just a survey based on schizophrenia or other mental illness, but an opportunity to understand Australians' perceptions of many different social groups," Professor Badcock said. "They include flying doctors, teenagers, people with drug abuse problems - all groups that most people have strong feelings about."

"We need to know what drives stigmas and stimulates stereotypes so we can target them effectively," she said.

"One thing we are hoping to understand is the influence, on firmly-held stereotypes, of having contact with somebody with a mental illness.

"Increased contact may not necessarily produce the expected success in terms of dispelling some forms of stigma.

"Of course, social inclusion is absolutely necessary for people suffering from mental illness but it may not be the answer to changing negative stereotypes," Professor Badcock said.

She said that young men tended not to seek early help if they suffered with a mental illness. "This, to me, says that they may have a stigmatising view of mental illness and can't accept it in themselves.

"So this survey is a great opportunity for men, especially young men, to have their say. The survey takes about 20 minutes."

Link to stereotyping survey .

Published in UWA News , 25 June 2012