Mass media interventions for reducing mental health-related stigma

Abstract

The primary objective is to assess the effects of mass media interventions on reducing stigma related to mental health in terms of discrimination and prejudice compared to inactive controls. The secondary objective is to make comparisons of effectiveness based on the nature of the intervention, the type of the intervention, and the type of media.

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

“…This finding is in line with a recent cross-sectional study carried out in Spain [50], with a similar methodology to those adopted in our study. It also confirms the positive impact that social media can have in challenging stigma attached to mental disorders [7] and supports the findings that at a population level it is possible to obtain a pattern of benefits for positive attitude changes [24]. It is interesting as in an omnibus survey carried out in the general population in England, a different pattern of change in attitudes was found [39], confirming that some contextual events -such as mass media coverage and reporting on mental health issues -can have an impact on attitudes toward mental illness [30,54].…”

Impact of a mass media mental health campaign on psychiatric emergency department visits

“…Previous work on mass media interventions aimed at reducing stigma have focused on changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour intentions of discrimination using survey measures. 6,8 Systematic reviews have reported that anti-stigma interventions were effective in changing attitudes. In addition, intervention groups experienced a decrease in prejudice outcomes compared with control groups immediately and months after the intervention.…”

“…In addition, intervention groups experienced a decrease in prejudice outcomes compared with control groups immediately and months after the intervention. 6,8 However, discrimination outcomes were mixed. Effects ranged from an increase to a decrease or to no difference in effect, which may have been a result of heterogeneity in study design.…”

“…5 Stigmatizing attitudes toward the mentally ill can have major negative impacts on those living with mental health concerns. 6 Anti-stigma mass media campaigns designed to normalize mental health concerns and encourage people to seek care have become increasingly common over the last two decades. 7,8 Studies evaluating the effect of mass media interventions aimed at reducing stigma have focused on knowledge, attitude and behavioural intentions as outcome measures.…”

“…7,8 Studies evaluating the effect of mass media interventions aimed at reducing stigma have focused on knowledge, attitude and behavioural intentions as outcome measures. 6,[8][9][10][11][12][13] These outcomes are assumed to be consistent with actual behaviour when the behaviour is not directly assessed. 5 Destigmatization may lead to increased readiness to seek professional help; however, few studies have examined the impact of stigma on actual help-seeking behaviour.…”