Stigma is a formidable barrier to the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with mental illness or HIV-AIDS, even among young persons. In contrast with HIV-AIDS, efforts by Nigerian policy makers to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness are virtually non-existent. Information on the attitude of school children towards affected individuals is essential in placing the need to combat the stigma associated with these disorders in the right perspective.

This study determined the social distance of a sample of secondary school students in Nigeria towards individuals with mental illness, as compared with those with HIV-AIDS.

A cross-sectional comparative survey. Secondary school students (n=170) in Lagos, Nigeria completed the modified Borgadus Social distance Scale.

The respondents were more likely to be socially distant from patients with mental illness than those with HIV/AIDS (p< 0.001, 95% CI, 2.56-8.24). About seven out of ten (71.8%) and 20.6% of the participants would be afraid to have a conversation with someone who has mental illness and HIV-AIDS respectively (p< 0.001). Those unwilling to be in the same classroom with a student that has mental illness and HIV/AIDS were 74.7% and 17.6% respectively (p< 0.001). Less than a tenth (9.4%) could maintain friendship with someone who has mental illness.

The findings suggest that secondary school students in Nigeria desire a higher level of social distance from individuals with mental illness than those with HIV-AIDS. Interventions targeted at reducing the stigma associated with mental illness among school children deserve priority attention.