
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 28, 1993                   TAG: 9310280209
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

POLL: STIGMA FADING FOR MENTALLY ILL

Most Americans still attach a stigma to being mentally ill, but believe overwhelmingly that treatment is the solution and that government and health insurance plans should cover it, according to a survey released Wednesday.

"There has never been a survey like this which shows a positive response to the treatment of people with mental illness," said Dr. Melvin Sabshin, head of the American Psychiatric Association.

The mail-in poll was conducted among a sample of 2,503 people by Mark Clements Research Inc. for Parade Publications.

More than half the respondents said there are negative public attitudes toward seeing a mental health professional; more than two-thirds said there is a stigma attached to admitting mental illness.

But the survey found that more than three-quarters of those polled would not be deterred from seeking help and said they thought that most mentally ill people can function normally in society if they receive treatment.

- Associated Press

by CNB