TPC-Digests-V1-Issues-123

into factors that influence mental illness stigma. One factor that has been studied as it relates to social distance is gender, both of the target (person with the mental illness) and perceiver (person who desires social distance). Researchers have suggested that stigma towards adults with mental illness exists among mental health professionals. Previous researchers have examined psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, but not professional counselors. Professional counselors should be included in this type of empirical examination, as professional counselors have reported that they help more clients with severe mental distress. Although professional counselors might work in the same settings as other mental health professionals, the training background of this subgroup includes some noteworthy differences. Relative to other mental health disciplines, counselor training programs are grounded in developmental perspectives and strength- based orientations. Thus, it is important to consider counselors in comparison to other mental health professions and the general public. The purpose of this study was to gain a more comprehensive understanding of social distance towards adults with mental illness by including counselors and counseling students in addition to other mental health professionals and students, non-mental health professionals, and students outside of a mental health discipline. Gender, as related to social distance also was included in the study. Results suggested that women desired less social distance than men. Participants with the professional orientation of counselor and psychologist desired significantly less social distance than those who identified as social worker and non-mental health professional. Social distance was related to attitudes towards mental illness. People who held more negative attitudes towards mental illness desired more social distance. More positive attitudes towards mental illness desired less social distance. Implications of the results were discussed and future research directions were suggested. It has been suggested that social distance research can provide valuable insight into factors that influence mental illness stigma. TPC Digest