VIOLENT ATTACKS ON PUBLIC FIGURES BY PERSONS SUFFERING FROM PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS - THEIR EFFECT ON THE SOCIAL DISTANCE TOWARDS THE MENTALLY-ILL

In connection with two attempts on the lives of prominent politicians committed by mentally ill individuals during 1990 there occurred a mar ked increase in social distance towards the mentally ill among the Ger man public. Even though the level of social distance subsided again du ring the 2 years following the attacks, it had not yet completely retu rned to its initial level by the end of 1992. The negative effects of these incidents on the attitude of the general public were able to be replicated on a regional level, after yet another violent attack by a mentally ill assailant in 1993, this time on the life of a famous fema le athlete.