Exploring Empathy and Compassion Using Digital Narratives (the Learning to Care Project): Protocol for a Multiphase Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Background Digital stories—first-person, self-made, 2- to 3-minute videos—generate awareness, impart knowledge, and promote understanding on topics such as mental illness. Digital stories are a narrative-based art form often created by individuals without formal training in filmmaking to relate personal experiences. Somewhat like digital narratives, video testimonies created within the social marketing or fundraising campaigns of government agencies and private or public corporations aim to reduce the stigma of mental illness while supporting research and services. In video testimonies, personal stories are captured on camera by professional filmmakers. Sharing critical life events greatly benefits tellers and listeners alike, supporting catharsis, healing, connectiveness, and citizenship. Objective This study explores digital stories and video testimonies featuring mental illness and recovery in their ability to elicit empathy and compassion while reducing stigma among viewers. Methods Using mixed methods, phase 1 will involve a search of Canadian social marketing activities and fundraising campaigns concerning mental illness and recovery. Phase 2 will involve the organization of digital storytelling workshops in which participants will create digital stories about their own experiences of mental illness and recovery. In phase 3, a pilot randomized controlled trial will be undertaken to compare marketing and fundraising campaigns with digital stories for their impact on viewers, whereas phase 4 will focus on knowledge dissemination. Results Ethics approval for this study was received in March 2021. Data on the feasibility of the study design and the results of the controlled trial will be generated. This study will produce new knowledge on effective ways of promoting mental health awareness and decreasing stigma, with practical importance for future social marketing and fundraising campaigns. The anticipated time for completion within the 2-year study period includes 9 months for phase 1 (knowledge synthesis activities identifying social marketing and fundraising campaigns) and phase 2 (storytelling workshops), 11 months for phase 3 (feasibility assessment and data collection: randomized controlled trial), and 2 months for phase 4 (knowledge dissemination). Conclusions The knowledge generated will have practical implications for the public and for future social marketing and fundraising campaigns promoted by government agencies as well as nonprofit and for-profit organizations by enhancing our understanding of how individuals and societies respond to stories of mental distress and what prompts citizens to help others. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04881084; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04881084 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/33525

A systematic review of digital storytelling as psychotherapy for people with mental health needs.

“…Six of the 14 sources reviewed specified different digital storytelling contents (Bunnell et al, 2017; Ferrari et al, 2022; Heilemann et al, 2017; Park et al, 2021; Rincon et al, 2022; Stargatt et al, 2022). According to Bunnell et al (2017), digital storytelling is the use of audio, video, graphics, and text that have been captured and sent electronically (through the internet) to a target audience for a specific purpose.…”

“…Only four sources stated at least one purpose for digital storytelling in their literature (Ferrari et al, 2022; Jamerson, 2017; Park et al, 2021; Stargatt et al, 2022). Six purposes of digital storytelling were obtained from these sources.…”

“…Six purposes of digital storytelling were obtained from these sources. In the words of the authors, these purposes included, to shape attitudes by communicating emotions and thoughts and stimulating empathy, compassion, and good citizenship among listeners (Ferrari et al, 2022); destigmatize sensitive and marginalizing personal issues such the fear of mental illness (Ferrari et al, 2022); encourage and bring hope to others (Ferrari et al, 2022); educate others to deepen listeners’ knowledge and understanding of patients’ personal stories (Park et al, 2021; Stargatt et al, 2022); engage the community (Stargatt et al, 2022); and externalize a problem, usually as a story, and then to find ways to express that problem differently (Jamerson, 2017).…”

“…The benefits found in six of the 14 reviewed sources are mostly the potential effects of storytelling in general, and where indicated, digital storytelling specifically. Three major categories of benefits: mental healing, empowerment, and resilience (Ferrari et al, 2022; Moon & Park, 2020; Stargatt et al, 2022); awareness, knowledge, and learning (Bunnell et al, 2017; Ferrari et al, 2022); and social relationships, connections, and engagement (Ferrari et al, 2022; Hammond et al, 2021; Rincon et al, 2022). The most common benefits of storytelling reported were related to the positive therapeutic effects on people with mental health needs.…”

“…The different uses of digital storytelling were obtained from seven sources. These were organized under four headings that included: sharing and promoting personal experiential stories (Ferrari et al, 2022; Park et al, 2021), engaging study participants and students in research and learning respectively (Heilemann et al, 2017; Park et al, 2021; Stargatt et al, 2022), creating and enhancing social connections or relationships (Bunnell et al, 2017; Park et al, 2021; Rincon et al, 2022) and therapy for people with mental health needs (Bunnell et al, 2017; Moon & Park, 2020). It appeared that despite the popularity of the therapeutic benefits of digital storytelling, the commonest use was for educational and research purposes.…”