Objective: There is a lack of in-depth studies on the stigmatization of mental health patients in China. This study aimed to investigate the stigmatizing opinions of Chinese toward different types of mental illnesses by a qualitative approach.
Method: Nine focus group interviews with 5 to 12 participants each were conducted in areas of different social classes in Hong Kong. Opinions on different types of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, mania, bipolar disorder, and alcohol/drug abuse, were discussed by the focus group participants.
Results: The participants tended to share very negative examples about the potential violent and annoying behaviors of patients with psychosis, including schizophrenia, mania, and bipolar disorders. However, the stigmatizing opinions did not generalize across different mental illnesses. Patients with anxiety or dementia were much better accepted than those with psychosis. The views on depression were diverse, depending on whether the patients had violent behaviors. Alcohol and drug abuse were seldom related to mental illnesses by the participants.
Conclusions: While there are different stereotypes for different mental illnesses, the perceived risks of aggressive behaviors determine the public's acceptance. Future interventions among Chinese should aim to reduce the public's exaggeration of the aggressive image of psychotic patients.
Keywords: Chinese; focus group interview; mental illnesses; stigma.