Youth-led Approaches to Reduction of Stigma Concerning Mental Illness and Mental Health Needs

• In Event: Culture and Mental Health Stigma: Communication as Barrier and Bridge Across Generations

Abstract

Despite recent campaigns to educate young people about mental illness, misinformation about mental illness is still prevalent among youth. Past research has demonstrated that stigma among youth about mental illness is malleable. This project was undertaken to investigate whether awareness raising efforts by youth for youth would be effective in reducing stigma concerning mental illness. Youth are known to be influences by other youth. Project leaders trained college students to work with high school students in developing public awareness presentations. These presentations were delivered by the high school students to students in middle school, after-school programs. Evaluation results indicated that stigmatization and social distancing decreased from pre- to post-test. The implications are that brief, youth-led interventions have the potential to impact youth beliefs about mental illness. Practical considerations in working with youth to support these aims will also be discussed.

Author

• Christina Bruhn, Aurora U