Reduction of negative social attributions towards people with mental illness through a combination of treatments

Abstract

Introduction

Stigma towards people with mental illness can have very negative consequences for the persons that experience it. So, it becomes strongly necessary to combat this problem.

Objectives/Aims

Evaluate the effectiveness of multiple interventions to reduce stigma against mental illness in a group of high school students.

Methods

Quasi-experimental study. Seventy-six students between 16 to 19 years old from 3 schools of southern Madrid State participated. No significant differences in age and gender between groups were found. The quasi-control group was obtained from 3 different classrooms (1 in each school). This group did not go through any treatment. The experimental group had 2 treatments. Treatment “A” consisted in 1 psychoeducation session. Treatment “B” was 1 visit (real or virtual) to the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. Persons exercising as museum guides had been diagnosed with mental illness. They already were participants in the PCEA program of the CRPS Latina. The instrument to assess stigma was the AQ-27, validated in Spanish.

Results

We found significant reductions of stigma in all dimensions explored: Anger (A vs BC; P < 0.001), Threat (A vs BC; P < 0.001), Fear (A vs BC; P < 0.001), Coercion (A vs BC; P < 0.001) Segregation (A vs BC; P < 0.001) and Avoidance (A vs BC; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The combination of treatments for intervention on stigma in samples of school students seems to be a very effective option to reduce stigma.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.