109 Participants with HIV, leprosy and diabetes, while empathetic towards those with schizophrenia, also expressed lack of enough knowledge and understanding and resultant fear in regards to the disease. It is well known that people with mental health disorders experience social stigma and discrimination everywhere in the world (Henderson et al., 2013; Thornicroft et al., 2016). In Indonesia, prejudices and misconceptions about schizophrenia are embedded in the local culture where people consider schizophrenics as crazy and possessed by evil spirits (Minas & Diatri, 2008; Rai et al., 2020). Further, the negative stereotypes related to the aggressive and mentally unstable nature of the disease is fuelled by misinformation and lack of enough knowledge on the disease (Hartini et al., 2018). However, in regards to HIV and leprosy, participants were more aware of the diseases, and their mode of transmission and treatment. This was attributed to participants being receptive and empathetic towards people with these two health conditions. Several nation-wide health awareness campaigns have been implemented across Indonesia aimed to raise awareness on HIV and leprosy (Ibrahim et al., 2010; Rachmani et al., 2013). Thus an increasing number of people now know about HIV and leprosy in Indonesia, and
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