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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Published in:

01-03-2018 | Original Paper

Effects of contact-based mental illness stigma reduction programs: age, gender, and Asian, Latino, and White American differences

Authors: Eunice C. Wong, Rebecca L. Collins, Jennifer L. Cerully, Jennifer W. Yu, Rachana Seelam

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 3/2018

Abstract

Purpose

Mental illness stigma disproportionately affects help seeking among youth, men, and ethnic minorities. As part of a comprehensive statewide initiative to reduce mental illness stigma and discrimination in California, a broad set of contact-based educational programs were widely disseminated. This study examined whether the effects of contact-based educational programs varied depending on the age, gender, and race-ethnicity of participants.

Methods

Participants (N = 4122) attended a contact-based educational program that was delivered as part of the statewide initiative to reduce mental illness stigma and discrimination. Self-administered surveys assessing beliefs, attitudes, and intentions toward mental illnesses and treatment were conducted immediately before and after participation in contact-based educational programs.

Results

Participant age, gender, and race-ethnicity significantly moderated pre–post changes in mental illness stigma. Although all groups exhibited significant pre–post changes across most of the stigma domains assessed, young adults, females, and Asian and Latino American participants reported larger improvements compared to older adults, males, and Whites, respectively.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that contact-based educational programs can achieve immediate reductions in mental illness stigma across a variety of sociodemographic groups and may particularly benefit young adults and racial–ethnic minorities. Further research is needed to assess whether contact-based educational programs can sustain longer-term changes and aid in the reduction of disparities in mental illness stigma and treatment.

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Title: Effects of contact-based mental illness stigma reduction programs: age, gender, and Asian, Latino, and White American differences
Authors: Eunice C. Wong
Rebecca L. Collins
Jennifer L. Cerully
Jennifer W. Yu
Rachana Seelam
Publication date: 01-03-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1459-9

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Effects of contact-based mental illness stigma reduction programs: age, gender, and Asian, Latino, and White American differences

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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