Table 2 Mean CAMI and RIBS scales scores (with percentile) and proportion of population that agrees with them

Mean value (and decile score) for the Authoritarianism subscale

24.9 (66.3)

24.7; 25.1

 1. One of the main causes of mental illness is a lack of self-discipline and will-power^a

53.2

50.7; 55.8

 2. There is something about people with mental illness that makes it easy to tell them from normal people^a

39.0

36.5; 41.4

 3. As soon as a person shows signs of mental disturbance, he should be hospitalized^a

52.1

49.6; 54.6

 4. Mental hospitals are an outdated means of treating people with mental illness

22.3

19.9; 24.6

 5. People with mental illness are a burden on society^a

75.1

73.0; 77.2

 6. People with mental illness should not be given any responsibility^a

51.2

48.7; 53.7

 7. Anyone with a history of mental problems should be excluded from taking public office^a

72.5

70.2; 74.7

Mean value (decile) for the Benevolence subscale

27.6 (90.4)

27.5; 27.7

 1. Virtually anyone can become mentally ill

92.2

90.9; 93.6

 2. People with mental illness have for too long been the subject of ridicule

74.7

72.5; 76.9

 3. We need to adopt a far more tolerant attitude toward people with mental illness in our society

91.8

90.4; 93.2

 4. We have a responsibility to provide the best possible care for people with mental illness

93.7

92.5; 94.9

 5. People with mental illness don’t deserve our sympathy^a

95.3

94.2; 96.3

 6. Increased spending on mental health services is a waste of money^a

93.8

92.6; 95.0

Mean value (decile) for the SCMH subscale

40.2 (78.2)

39.9; 40.5

 1. I would not want to live next door to someone who has been mentally ill^a

71.4

69.2; 73.7

 2. No-one has the right to exclude people with mental illness from their neighbourhood

84.1

82.3; 85.9

 3. People with mental illness are far less of a danger than most people suppose

62.0

59.5; 64.5

 4. Most people who were once patients in a mental hospital can be trusted to take care of other (babysitters, etc.)

44.2

41.7; 46.8

 5. The best therapy for many people with mental illness is to be part of a normal community

85.2

83.3; 87.0

 6. As far as possible, mental health services should be provided through community based facilities

73.3

71.1; 75.6

 7. Residents have nothing to fear from people coming into their neighborhood to obtain mental health services

74.4

72.1; 76.6

 8. It is frightening to think of people with mental problems living in residential neighborhoods^a

77.6

75.6; 79.7

 9. Locating mental health facilities in a residential area downgrades the neighborhood^a

84.4

82.6; 86.3

Mean value (decile) for the RIBS subscale

16.4 (76.1)

16.2; 16.6

 1. In the future, I would be willing to live with someone with a mental health problem

62.9

60.5; 65.3

 2. In the future, I would be willing to work with someone with a mental health problem

73.1

70.9; 75.4

 3. In the future, I would be willing to live nearby to someone with a mental health problem

74.6

72.4; 76.8

 4. In the future, I would be willing to continue a relationship with a friend who developed a mental health problem

79.9

77.9; 82.0