Note to users

A technical fault prevented timely access to the Attitudes to Mental Illness 2011 publication via the NHS Information Centre website (due for release at 09.30am on 8 June 2011). This publication is now available. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Summary

This report presents the findings of a survey of attitudes towards mental illness among adults in England undertaken in 2011. Questions on this topic have been asked since 1994.

The questionnaire included a number of statements about mental illness. Respondents were asked to indicate how much they agreed or disagreed with each statement. Other questions covered a range of other topics including descriptions of people with mental illness, relationships with people with mental health problems, personal experience of mental illness, and perceptions of mental health-related stigma and discrimination.

Key facts

The report highlighted some significant changes over time. Some key changes include:

• The percentage of people agreeing that ‘Mental illness is an illness like any other' increased from 71% in 1994 (the first year this question was asked) to 77% in 2011, although this figure is little changed in recent years.
• The percentage saying they would be comfortable talking to a friend or family member about their mental health, for example telling them they had a mental health diagnosis and how it affects them, rose from 66% in 2009 (the first year the question was asked) to 70% in 2011.
• The percentage saying they would feel uncomfortable talking their employer about their mental health was 43%, compared to 50% in 2010 (the first year this question was asked)

This is a survey report previously published by the Department of Health.