BACKGROUND

Service users' perception of mental illness is vital because it points out a viable direction that practitioners can follow to fully understand service users in their own sociocultural context.

MATERIAL

Qualitative research findings include mental health service users' roles and identities, their perceptions of mental illness and their personal experiences of psychiatric stigma.

DISCUSSION

While there are similar phenomena regarding mental illness stigma between East and West, there are culturally distinctive characteristics found in Taiwan.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on personal perceptions and experiences, mental health service users have interpreted illness and performed the patient role in their own way.