Beliefs of health workers in Istanbul towards individuals with mental health problems (tur)

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to evaluate the beliefs and thoughts of healthcare workers in Istanbul about individuals with mental health problems from a social inclusion perspective. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is the field research of a Strategic Partnership for Vocational Education and Training Erasmus+ Project named "Linking Partners: Linking Partners to Share Good Practices for Social Inclusion of People with Mental Health Problems" (2018-1-TR01-KA202-058379) coordinated by Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate. Healthcare workers who voluntarily participated in the research conducted through official announcement channels were included (n=588). Questions investigating sociodemographic characteristics and the views of the participants on the subject were asked, and the 'Beliefs Towards Mental Illness Scale' (BMI) was applied. An increase in BMI score indicates negative belief towards individuals with mental health problems. RESULTS: The participants' BMI score was 49.2+-17.3; subscale scores were 25.9+-10.5 for "incurability/poor social and interpersonal skills"; 21.6+-7.0 for 'dangerousness'; 1.6+-2.2 for 'embarrassment'. BMI scores differ according to gender, occupational group, education level, marital status, having a child, and having a diagnosed mental illness in himself/hersel for a relative. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The negative beliefs towards individuals with mental health problems of healthcare workers working at public institutions in Istanbul are moderate; most of them agreed with the view that mental health services should be more community-based; It can be said that there is a need for training on social inclusion. Since this study includes both healthcare professionals and non-health professionals working in healthcare institutions, it is more inclusive than studies in the literature.