There is growing awareness that mental illness is surrounded by negative attitudes and
stigmas. The aim of the present study was to investigate factors associated with
mental health nursing staff’s attitudes towards persons with mental illness. Data were
collected from 256 mental health nursing staff employed by one county council and
10 municipalities. The findings show that staff have more positive attitudes towards
persons with mental illness if their knowledge about mental illness is less stigmatized,
their work places are in the county council, and they currently have or have once had
a close friend with mental health problems. The multiple regression model explained
16% of the variance; stigma-related knowledge and employer had significant
Beta-coefficients. To account for unknown correlations in data, a linear generalized
estimating equation was performed. In this model, stigma-related knowledge and
employer remained significant, but a new significant factor also emerged: personal
contact, i.e. currently having or having once had a close friend with mental health
problems. This indicates correlations at unit level in the county council and in the
municipalities. The conclusion is that more favourable attitudes among staff towards
persons with mental illness could be developed and transmitted in the subculture at
work places.