Monday, January 12, 2004

Knowing a person has schizophrenia affects police officers’ attitudes
Item in Mental Health Notes from CMHA/Ontario - "Police officers responded to hypothetical scenarios differently when they were told some people in the scenarios had schizophrenia: they saw people with schizophrenia as more dangerous and less responsible for their situation, as well as more worthy of help, according to a University of Chicago study. ... The results showed that when officers are told that a person has a mental illness, their attitudes and decisions are affected. The group who were told the person had schizophrenia had a higher perception of dangerousness than the group who had no label applied. They also felt more pity, were more willing to help, and believed the person with schizophrenia to be less responsible for their situation. The officers were more likely to perceive the person in need of assistance as credible if that person had schizophrenia, but were less likely to consider victims credible if they had schizophrenia."