Children with Mental Health Issues: Is There a Public Stigma?

Psychiatric Services published a study exploring the public perception of children with mental health problems. The study used data from The National Stigma Study-Children (NSS-C), which presented vignettes to 1,152 people. NSS-C investigators compared public perceptions of children with ADHD, major depression, and asthma. 33% of respondents said children with ADHD and major depression were somewhat likely to be dangerous to themselves or others, and 81% said they were very likely to be dangerous, compared with 15% for children with asthma. 35% of respondents endorsed a legal mandate to treat children who have major depression, although 42% supported a similar measure for children with asthma.
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/58/5/619

-LS