ABSTRACT
Culture influences the construction of what is normal and abnormal behaviour, hence ethnically based cultural norms could shape perceptions of the social undesirability of psychiatric symptoms. Causal explanations: Generally, negative attitudes are displayed towards patients whose illnesses are believed to be caused supernaturally. Yet, studies also indicate that endorsing biological causations and considering the condition as coming from a stable trait could lead to pessimism about prognosis and treatment outcome. (Mis)conceptualisation and (Mis)representation of Mental Illness: The media is characteristically awash with exaggerated stereotypes of persons with mental illness that reinforce causal myths, prejudices, misconceptions, fear, and anxieties. The conceptualisation of mental illness mainly in terms of severe psychotic disorders in most of sub-Saharan Africa is also a potential basis for strong stigmatisation of mental disorders. Similarly fuelling strong negative attitudes in the region is the pervasive pessimism of prognosis that sees mental illness as incurable. Nature and Symptom Presentation of Illness: People hold attitudes based on what they have experienced of the attitude object. The complexity of mental illness stigma is such that diagnosis of mental illness and psychiatric hospitalisation in themselves can also stigmatise.
