Abstract
This study aimed to test the effects of a 1-h classroom-based workshop, led by medical students, on mental illness stigma amongst secondary school students. Students (aged 14–17) from three public secondary schools in British Columbia participated in the workshop. A questionnaire measuring stigma (including stereotype endorsement and desire for social distance) was administered immediately before (T1), immediately after (T2), and 1-month after the workshop (T3). A total of 279 students met the study inclusion criteria. Total scores on the stigma scale decreased by 23 % between T1 and T2 (p < 0.01). This was sustained 1-month post-workshop with a 21 % stigma reduction compared to pre-intervention (p < 0.01). This effect was primarily due to improvements in scores that measured desire for social distance. There were no significant changes in scores that measured stereotype endorsement. Adolescents’ stigmatizing attitudes can be effectively reduced through a 1-h easily implementable and cost-effective classroom-based workshop led by medical students.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Vancouver and Surrey School Boards, school counselors, and teachers. The data analysis was completed with input and assistance from Boris Kuzeljevic. The preliminary work was contributed by Healthy Young Minds (HYM) project founders Drs. Alex Butskiy, Maryam Dosani, Disha Mehta, Taylor Swanson and Kristy Williams with the guidance of Dr. Shafik Dharamsi. The goal of HYM is to ultimately incorporate an effective and sustainable student-led anti-stigma intervention into the Grade 9–10 curriculum. We would also like to thank our financial supporters: Canadian Federation of Medical Students Student Initiative Grant 2011 and 2012, and the British Columbia Medical Association. JA was supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and BC Mental Health and Addictions Services.
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The authors do not have any conflicts of interest, and all authors certify responsibility.
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Sally Ke, Joshua Lai, Terri Sun, Michael M. H. Yang and Jay Ching Chieh Wang have contributed equally to the work.
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Ke, S., Lai, J., Sun, T. et al. Healthy Young Minds: The Effects of a 1-hour Classroom Workshop on Mental Illness Stigma in High School Students. Community Ment Health J 51, 329–337 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9763-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9763-2