Stigma towards Mental Illness among Healthcare Students: A Comparative Study of Nursing and Medical Programs in a Public University in Malaysia

Background: Stigma towards mental illness among healthcare students is a pressing issue, as their attitudes shape future patient care and influence societal perceptions. Despite the rising prevalence of mental health problems, evidence from Malaysia remains limited. This study aimed to compare stigma levels between undergraduate nursing and medical students. Methods: Using a convenient sampling approach, this cross-sectional study surveyed 240 nursing and medical students at a public university in the East Coast of Malaysia via the OMS-HC scale. The researchers applied descriptive statistics to summarize the data and utilized t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to perform inferential comparisons. Results: Nursing students reported significantly higher stigma scores (M = 35.6) compared to medical students (M = 32.1, p < 0.05). Across subscales, nursing students also showed more negative attitudes (Median = 17.0 vs. 15.0), greater social distance (Median = 8.5 vs. 8.0), and higher reluctance to disclose personal mental health issues (M = 10.1 vs. 9.2; all subscale differences were statistically significant at p < 0.05). Conclusion: Generally, nursing students demonstrated higher stigma than medical students. These findings highlight the need for curriculum reform, including structured anti-stigma education, reflective sessions, and mentorship, to foster more positive attitudes and reduce stigma among future healthcare professionals in Malaysia.