AN URBAN POPULATION'S OPINION AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
PAUL V. LEMKAU M.D.1, and
GUIDO M. CROCETTI 2
1 Professor, public Health Administration, Division of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
2 Asst. Professor, public Health Administration, Division of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
1. I believe the authors have obtained from their sample a response which is very likely more in keeping with the true level of knowledge, understanding, and tolerance, in spite of the fact that their data proved contrary to what was apparently their original hypotheses.
2. The population sample is, in my opinion, different from those studied elsewhere and this may account in part for the responses.
3. For at least a significant segment of the study population, it is unlikely that they have responded to mental health education as carried out in the past few years and, therefore, that this does not indicate that such educational programs have brought about the findings of this study.
4. I should like to congratulate the authors for carrying out a well planned study which will likely lead the way to a more accurate appreciation of the opinion and knowledge of population groups with respect to the mental illnesses.
