Stigma toward mental illness: A comparative analysis among medical and nursing students in two centers in Telangana, India

Abstract Background: Mental illness continues to be a significant public health challenge, with stigma acting as a barrier to seeking care and improving outcomes. Healthcare students, particularly medical and nursing students, play an influential role in shaping future societal attitudes toward mental health. Their attitudes and perceptions toward mental illness can directly impact the care patients receive and influence how mental health issues are addressed within the healthcare system. Stigma among healthcare students can undermine the quality of patient care, discourage individuals from seeking help, and perpetuate harmful stereotypes that affect wider societal views. This study compares the stigma toward mental illness between medical and nursing students from two educational institutions in Khammam and Warangal, located in Telangana. Telangana was chosen as the study location due to its unique cultural and educational context, which may provide valuable insights into regional variations in stigma and perceptions of mental health. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 827 students from private medical college (Khammam) and government medical college (Warangal). The Mental Illness Clinicians’ Attitudes-2 (MICA-2) scale was used for medical students, while the modified MICA-4 scale was employed for nursing students to measure attitudes toward mental illness. In addition, sociodemographic data, including gender, previous contact with individuals with mental illness, and academic semester, were collected. Results: A total of 827 students participated in the study, with 57.4% of medical students and 42.6% of nursing students. Medical students exhibited significantly higher stigma scores (41.07 ± 6.74) compared to nursing students (38.07 ± 7.44, P < 0.001). Male students had higher stigma levels (41.37 ± 7.06) than female students (36.57 ± 7.33, P < 0.001). Students with prior contact with individuals suffering from mental illness showed lower stigma scores (35.42 ± 8.91) compared to those without prior contact (39.35 ± 6.14, P < 0.001). Students from Warangal had lower stigma scores (38.13 ± 7.03) compared to those from Khammam (39.15 ± 6.54, P < 0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed that medical students from private medical college, Khammam (MedKh) had the highest stigma, followed by nursing students from the same institution. Students from government medical college, Warangal (MedWar) exhibited intermediate stigma, with Government nursing college, Warangal (NurWar) showing the lowest stigma levels. Conclusion: This study highlights significant differences in stigma levels between students from various institutions and regions, emphasizing the importance of addressing stigma in healthcare education. To reduce stigma, it is crucial to integrate anti-stigma programs into medical and nursing curricula, with a focus on mental health awareness. In addition, increasing clinical exposure to mental health settings and fostering direct interaction with individuals experiencing mental illness can help reduce prejudice and promote more compassionate care. These actionable steps can support the development of a more empathetic and stigma-free healthcare workforce.