A nationwide survey has discovered the stigma and discrimination described by individuals with psychological well being points largely matched the attitudes of Australians – and had been commonest amongst household and mates.

The Behavioural Economics Team within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet designed a survey to check the perceptions of 7873 Australians in direction of psychological ill-health. The work was undertaken late final yr for the National Mental Health Commission and solely not too long ago finalised.

Some findings have been referenced in a draft stigma and discrimination discount technique launched for public session final week, nonetheless solely the complete report of the survey reveals the extent of the issue.

Respondents had been requested whether or not they could be unwilling to interact in sure actions if the opposite individual had considered one of a number of listed psychological well being diagnoses.

The unfavourable response was highest the place the opposite individual had long-term schizophrenia: 62 per cent of respondents wouldn’t wish to “make friends with someone with this problem,” whereas 84 per cent wouldn’t wish to “have someone with this problem marry in to family” and virtually all (94 per cent) wouldn’t wish to “have them look after your children”.

“We found the stigmatising beliefs and intentions they expressed were largely consistent with the experiences described by people with personal lived experience,” the unit reported back to government.

Rates of negativity had been additionally excessive when it got here to extra frequent psychological well being diagnoses, reminiscent of despair, which might make 25 per cent of individuals unwilling to think about a friendship, 52 per cent involved by a potential household relationship, and 77 per cent unwilling to let the individual thoughts their kids.

“We found one in three people with recent personal lived experience reported unfair treatment by family and friends, and one in four reported unfair treatment by their spouse or partner,” the report states.

“Experiences of discrimination in the workplace were also common, with one in three people reporting unfair treatment in the workplace.”