Evaluation of the effect of mental health training of primary health care workers on attitudes towards mental illness

IntroductionThe World Health Organization (WHO) set a target of task shifting as a means of achieving improved mental health services within the community as a means of tackling the unmet needs of mental health care. Primary health care workers (PHCWs) have been identified as essential to achieving this goal.ObjectivesThis study was to identify attitudes and beliefs of PHCWs on mental illness, and to assess the effect of a mental health training on these attitudes and beliefs.MethodsThe attitude towards mental illness (ASMI) scale was administered on 91 PHCWs pre- and post- a 4 day training on mental health to assess change in attitude across 6 domains.ResultsOur findings revealed significant positive change in four domains, namely separatism (p = < 0.001), restrictiveness (p = < 0.001), benevolence (p = p =< 0.001) and stigmatization (p = < 0.001). The changes in stereotyping (p = 0.475) and pessimistic prediction (p = 0.056) domains were not clinically significant.ConclusionsPrimary health care workers’ negative attitude and stigmatizing beliefs can be improved upon via regular enlightenment programmes and training. This can be done at regular intervals