Effectiveness of social contact and educational intervention on reducing mental health stigma in university students

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miquel Juncosa Roman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Mental Health Stigma

The Impact of Social Marketing Campaigns on Reducing Mental Health Stigma: Results From the 2009–2014 Time to Change Programme

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 116-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Sampogna ◽  
I. Bakolis ◽  
S. Evans-Lacko ◽  
E. Robinson ◽  
G. Thornicroft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Media Channels ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundIn England, during 2009–2014 the ‘Time to Change’ anti-stigma programme has included a social marketing campaign (SMC) using mass media channels, social media and social contact events but the efficacy of such approach has not been evaluated yet.MethodsThe target population included people aged between mid-twenties/mid-forties, from middle-income groups. Participants were recruited through an online market research panel, before and after each burst of the campaign (with a mean number of unique participants per each burst: 956.9 ± 170.2). Participants completed an online questionnaire evaluating knowledge [Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS)]; attitudes [Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness (CAMI)]; and behaviours [Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS)]. Socio-demographic data and level of awareness of the SMC were also collected.ResultsA total of 10,526 people were interviewed. An increasing usage of the SMC-media channels as well as of the level of awareness of SMC was found (P < 0.001). Being aware of the SMC was found to be associated with higher score at MAKS (OR = 0.95, CI = 0.68 to 1.21; P < 0.001), at ‘tolerance and support’ CAMI subscale (OR = 0.12, CI = 0.09 to 0.16; P < 0.001), and at RIBS (OR = 0.71, CI = 0.51 to 0.92; P < 0.001), controlling for confounders.ConclusionThe SMC represents an important way to effectively reduce stigma. Taking into account these positive findings, further population-based campaigns using social media may represent an effective strategy to challenge stigma.

Mental Health Stigma and Social Contact Revisited: The Role of Network Closeness and Negativity

2021 ◽  
pp. 215686932110431
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Felix ◽  
Freda Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Egocentric Network ◽  
Interpersonal Ties

Researchers and policymakers are increasingly interested in the extent to which mental health stigma can be mitigated through social contact with people who disclose mental health issues. Empirical research on contact and stigma, however, largely focuses on the presence of contact without fully examining the nature of relationships. Interpersonal ties, for example, can be enduring and supportive, enduring and stressful, or weak yet cooperative. Using a novel egocentric network survey, this study contributes by measuring contact with respect to both the presence of alters with perceived mental health issues and the nature of those connections. Results show that, compared to respondents without any contact, naming more mental health contacts is associated with a reduction in stigma only when those relations are characterized by closeness and a lack of negativity. Among individuals with contact, a higher proportion of relationships perceived as negative or “difficult” exacerbates stigma. Implications of these findings for stigma reduction are discussed.

scholarly journals Advancing research to eliminate mental illness stigma: an interventional study to improve community attitudes towards depression among University students in Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Min Janrius GOH ◽  
Shazana SHAHWAN ◽  
Jue Hua LAU ◽  
Wei Jie ONG ◽  
Gregory Tee Hng TAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
University Students ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Sociodemographic Correlates ◽  
Quadratic Effects

Abstract Background After decades of anti-stigma initiatives, the Advancing Research To Eliminate Mental Illness Stigma (ARTEMIS) intervention study is one of the first in Singapore to evaluate the effects of an anti-stigma intervention on attitudes towards depression in university students. Methods 390 university students from a local university in Singapore were voluntarily recruited for the study. The ARTEMIS intervention comprises an educational and social contact component, as well as a question and answer (Q&A) session with experts in the area of mental health. The Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI) scale was administered at baseline, post-intervention and at 3-months follow-up. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. Results The CFA identified a 3-factor model for the CAMI with a decent fit (RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.93, SRMR = 0.06). Favourable shifts in attitudes across the factors were observed immediately after the intervention (p <  0.001). Gender (β = − 1.19, 95% CI: − 2.10, − 0.27, p = 0.01) and nationality (β = − 1.23, 95% CI: − 2.35, − 0.11, p = 0.03) were identified as significant correlates for the community mental health ideology (CMHI) factor. Linear effects indicated that having a close social contact with mental illness observed a smaller decrease in authoritarianism scores from pre- to post-intervention (β = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.53, p = 0.01); whereas quadratic effects found a greater decrease in scores from post-intervention to after 3-months for benevolence (β = − 0.34, 95% CI: − 0.52, − 0.16, p <  0.001) and CMHI (β = − 0.22, 95% CI: − 0.45, − 0.002, p = 0.048). Conclusion The anti-stigma intervention shows promising short-term results across the CAMI dimensions even after adjusting for sociodemographic correlates. However, the intervention did not observe the sustained attitude shifts after 3-months. Recommendations for future anti-stigma interventions were also considered.

scholarly journals At home or in hospital: Home treatment and mental health stigma

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110095
Author(s):  
Allerdiena A Hubbeling ◽  
Jared G Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Home Treatment ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
The Uk ◽  
At Home

Background: Stigmatized attitudes towards people with mental illness may influence treatment choice for oneself and others. Aim: To gauge the attitudes of the UK general public towards treatment at home for mental illness and to assess the extent to which non-acceptability was related to stigmatized attitudes. Methods: Two hundred and two (101 female) people living in the UK completed an online (vignette) questionnaire in which we asked demographic details and personal experience of mental illness. To measure stigma, we used an adapted version of the Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) with vignettes asking about treatment at home and using scales for social distance and poor expectations; participants also filled in the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS). Results: Participants did not evidence overall agreement with treatment at home for mental illness (i.e. >0; range = −16-to-+16, Mean ( M) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.08, 1.80, p = .073), although they showed significant agreement with treatment at home should they experience mental illness themselves (range = −8-to-+8, M = 1.36, CI = 0.82, 1.89, p < .001). Acceptability for treatment at home differed according to specific mental illness considered (range = −4-to-+4); depression ( M = 0.47, CI = 0.13, 0.81, p = .006) and alcohol abuse ( M = 1.46, CI = 1.14,1.77, p < .001) were considered suitable for being treated at home but schizophrenia was not ( M = −0.78, CI = −1.13,−0.43, p < .001). Multivariate analyses revealed that older age and attitudes indicating comfort with less social distance from people with mental illness were independently associated with treatment at home agreeability. Conclusions: Public acceptability of home treatment for mental illness remains ambivalent in the UK, most obviously when considering treatment approaches for individuals other than themselves and for people with schizophrenia. Disagreement with home treatment is particularly evident in younger people and those who prefer less social contact with people with mental illness.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Pretentious Psychological Well-Being of Students: A Threat to Educational Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Li ◽  
Hira Hafeez ◽  
Muhammad Asif Zaheer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
University Students ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Economic Sustainability ◽  
Psychological Well Being

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, reaction quarantine, social distancing, and economic crises have posed a greater risk to physical and psychological health. Such derogatory mental health stigma is associated with adverse outcomes in the student population. The purpose of the current study is to provide a timely evaluation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects on students’ psychological well-being to sustain economic sustainability. A thorough review of the literature and current studies, significant emphasis of socio-demographic indicators, interpretation of physical symptoms, home quarantine activities, and COVID-19 unique stressors were extracted. Data were collected through electronic surveys from 640 university students at local and foreign universities. The findings revealed substantial adverse effects resulting in varying levels of stress, symptoms of depression, and specific discomfort in the case. Among COVID-19 stressors, financial instability, unpredictability toward future/career, and media exposure have been described as common factors that cause poor psychological well-being and weaken economic sustainability. COVID-19, quarantine, self-isolation, and onerous interventions primarily weaken university students’ mental health. The emphasis on this vulnerable category, however, is substantially absent from the literature. This research addresses the urgent need to develop possible solutions and preventive measures to promote economic sustainability by ensuring students’ psychological well-being.

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