Relationships between problem labelling and treatment referrals by laymen

Fifteen months after extensive instruction in mental health practices, open-ended responses of 103 subjects confirmed the two tested hypotheses. Findings revealed that (1) significantly more referrals of mental health problems for treatment by a professional were made in a non-ego involving than an ego involving situation, and (2) differences among recommendations were associated with the perception of the problem as (a) mental illness, (b) emotional disturbance, and (c) nervous breakdown. Under conditions of ego involvement, "lay therapeutic" intervention via advising, "straightening out" the patient, and recommending rest, vacation, etc. became a significant treatment modality. The relation of the results to programs of public mental health education are discussed.