This research was carried out in order to determine the beliefs of nurses working in eight Mental Health and Illnesses Hospitals related to Ministry of Health in Turkey toward mental illnesses.

This descriptive research was carried out by 650 participant nurses working in eight hospitals between the dates January-March 2009. Data were collected by “Descriptive Information Form” and “Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale(BMIS)” based on self-report. In evaluation of data, number-percentage distribution was done and the relationship between the variables was examined by t-test and variance analysis.

Average age of the nurses, most of whom were women (79.8%), was 34.48 ± 7.54. 86.3% of the nurses stated that they didn’t have any extensive course about psychiatry during their education, while 74.2% of the nurses, 33.4% of whom were Health Vocational High School graduates, stated that they had courses about phychiatry. BMIS point average of the nurses was found as 60.16 ± 14.83(Min:0- Max:105). A statistically meaningful relationship was found between the nurses’ hospitals they worked in, positions they worked, being satisfied from working for psychiatry, feeling safe while working for psychiatry, finding the working enviroment safe, having course about psychiatry during their education, having education about psychiatry after graduation and BMIS point average(p < 0.05).

The research results showed that the nurses working in Mental Health and Illnesses Hospital in Turkey and giving care to individuals with mental disorders had negative attitudes toward mental illnesses. It was determined that the nurses, who had education about pyschiatry during their education or after their graduation, had more positive attitudes toward mental illnesses.