A Comparative Study of Opinion and Knowledge About Mental Illness in Different Societies

An extensive survey of two communities in Western Nigeria, one urban and the other rural, was conducted to find out some characteristics of opinion and knowledge about mental illness among the Yoruba. A questionnaire containing descriptions of four different types of mental illness (simple schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, anxiety neurosis/depression, and alcoholism), was administered to 771 respondents, randomly selected. The description of paranoid schizophrenia was more readily recognized as mental illness than the others. Respondents tended to typify persons who fit the other three descriptions in such terms as "shy," "hot-tempered," "queer," "flirt," and "drunkard." Compared with Asian, Australian, and North American studies, lesser proportions of Nigerian respondents viewed the descriptions as symptomatic of psychiatric disorder. The finding that most respondents are still unaware of the range of symptoms and their significance is particularly striking because the catchment area for this study has had a long exposure to modern psychiatric delivery systems. It is suggested that the heightening of awareness of psychiatric symptoms through nationwide mental health education is essential for the full utilization of mental health services.