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An online intervention using information on the mental health-mental illness continuum to reduce stigma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

G. Schomerus ,
M.C. Angermeyer ,
S.E. Baumeister ,
S. Stolzenburg ,
B.G. Link  and
J.C. Phelan
G. Schomerus*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
M.C. Angermeyer
Affiliation:
Center for Public Mental Health, Gösing, Austria Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
S.E. Baumeister
Affiliation:
Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany Institute for Community Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
S. Stolzenburg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
B.G. Link
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York, USA University of California Riverside, USA
J.C. Phelan
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stalsund, Germany. Tel.: +49 3831 452109; fax: +49 3831 452105. E-mail address: [email protected] (G. Schomerus).
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Abstract

Background

A core component of stigma is being set apart as a distinct, dichotomously different kind of person. We examine whether information on a continuum from mental health to mental illness reduces stigma.

Method

Online survey experiment in a quota sample matching the German population for age, gender and region (n = 1679). Participants randomly received information on either (1) a continuum, (2) a strict dichotomy of mental health and mental illness, or (3) no information. We elicited continuity beliefs and stigma toward a person with schizophrenia or depression.

Results

The continuum intervention decreased perceived difference by 0.19 standard deviations (SD, P < 0.001) and increased social acceptance by 0.18 SD (P = 0.003) compared to the no-text condition. These effects were partially mediated by continuity beliefs (proportion mediated, 25% and 26%), which increased by 0.19 SD (P < 0.001). The dichotomy intervention, in turn, decreased continuity beliefs and increased notions of difference, but did not affect social acceptance.

Conclusion

Attitudes towards a person with mental illness can be improved by providing information on a mental health-mental illness continuum.

Keywords

Social stigmaIntervention studySchizophreniaDepression
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 32 , February 2016 , pp. 21 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2016

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