Stigma and discrimination have been identified as important obstacles to the integration of people with mental illness in society. In efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination, health professionals play an important role as they have frequent contact with and responsibility for treatment and rehabilitation of consumers. The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes towards mental illness and people with mental illness among nursing staff working in psychiatric or somatic care. The sample consisted of 120 registered or assistant nurses who were interviewed about intimacy with mental illness and attitudes about seven different mental illnesses. The results showed that nursing staff in somatic care, to a higher degree than nursing staff in mental health, reported more negative attitudes with regard to people with schizophrenia as being more dangerous and unpredictable. In contrast, professional experience, intimacy with mental illness and type of care organization were found to be more associated with attitudes to specific mental illnesses concerning the prospect of improvement with treatment and the prospect of recovery. In conclusion, attitudes among nursing staff are in several respects comparable with public opinions about mental illness and mentally ill persons. In order to elucidate if negative attitudes about dangerousness and unpredictability of persons with specific mental illnesses are associated with realistic experiences or with prejudices further studies with a qualitative design are suggested.

The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA) is a short interview, which has received a recent interest in research investigating quality of life in people with mental illness. In the present study, the Swedish version of MANSA is examined with regard to reliability, in terms of internal consistency and construct validity. Ninety-two persons with severe mental illness were interviewed regarding quality of life, social network, psychosocial functioning, psychiatric symptoms, needs for care, empowerment and experiences of stigma. Internal consistency was adequate (alpha = 0.81). Positive correlations were found between MANSA and social network, empowerment and psychosocial functioning, and negative correlations with psychopathology, number of needs for care, perceived devaluation and discrimination, and rejection experiences. Social network, psychosocial functioning and beliefs of devaluation and discrimination altogether explained 67% of the variance in quality of life. The Swedish version of MANSA showed a satisfactory reliability in terms of internal consistency. The construct of validity of the scale was satisfactory insofar as associations with validation measures were of considerable magnitude and in expected directions.

Empowerment has become a widespread concept in various social policy contexts referring to different marginalized groups. Empowerment has also been focused within the mental health field although little empirical research exists. The aim of the present study was to investigate internal consistency and construct validity of the Swedish version of an empowerment scale developed for people with a mental illness, Making Decisions. Ninety-two persons were subject to an interview also comprising assessments of quality of life, needs for care, psychiatric symptoms, psychosocial functioning, aspects of the social network, rejection experiences and attitudes of devaluation/discrimination towards people with mental illness. The results showed that the overall scale and the subscales had a good internal consistency, except for the subscale power-powerlessness. A factor analysis revealed two superordinate factors, self-esteem and activism and community and power, with a satisfactory internal consistency. These two factors showed a good construct validity with expected associations to validation measures. Stigma was most markedly associated with self-esteem and activism, and a higher level of education was most strongly associated with community and power. In conclusion, the Swedish version Making Decisions may well be used in further studies of empowerment among people with a mental illness.

Improving physical health with lifestyle programmes in the form of study circles and when involving their cares will in addition to increased physical health end in improved sense of coherence.