BACKGROUND:

Understanding trends in public attitudes towards people with mental illness informs the assessment of ongoing severity of stigma and evaluation of anti-stigma campaigns.

AIMS:

To analyse trends in public attitudes towards people with mental illness in England and Scotland using Department of Health Attitudes to Mental Illness Surveys, 1994-2003.

METHOD:

We analysed trends in attitudes for 2000 respondents in each survey year (6000 respondents in 1996 and 1997) using quota sampling methods and the adapted Community Attitudes Toward the Mentally Ill scale.

RESULTS:

Comparing 2000 and 2003, there was significant deterioration for 17/25 items in England and for 4/25 items in Scotland. Neither country showed significant improvements in items between 2000 and 2003.

CONCLUSIONS:

Public attitudes towards people with mental illness in England and Scotland became less positive during 1994-2003, especially in 2000-2003, and to a greater extent in England. The results are consistent with early positive effects for the 'see me' anti-stigma campaign in Scotland.