CONTEXT: Persistent negative attitudes and social rejection of people with mental illness prevailed in every social, religious and cultural aspects. Studies suggested that experience due to contact and education about treatment of illness might decrease negative attitudes.

AIM: To compare attitudes towards mental illness between nursing staff of psychiatric and non-psychiatric hospitals.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a cross sectional comparative study done in government hospitals, Visakhapatnam.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 122 government nursing staff were taken and  COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS scale was applied.

STATISTICS: Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 16.

RESULTS: Nursing staff of psychiatric hospital has more favorable attitudes towards mental illness compared to other group, and it was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Nursing staff of psychiatric hospitals showed more positive attitudes towards mental illness than the other group probably because of their experience and education about mental health. 

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