[Perceptions of mental illness in Quebec residents]

A transverse survey was conducted with 772 Quebecers in September 1992. Its purpose was to evaluate the level of awareness of the general public about mental illness, the general knowledge of these illnesses and their treatments and the attitudes towards mentally ill patients. Results show that half of the interviewed subjects still feel that they are not informed enough about mental illness and even well informed people have a poor general knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatments. Finally, more than 65% of the surveyed population show positive attitudes towards psychiatric patients, which seems to be an improvement in comparison with the past years. The author believes that physicians should give more information on mental illness and particularly on the role of drugs in the treatment of mentally ill patients. It seems also important to put more emphasis on information to low and middle class people.