Faculty Forum Teaching Abnormal Psychology to Improve Attitudes Toward Mental Illness and Help-seeking

Abnormal psychology instructors often use traditional and personal methods to educate students about and improve student attitudes toward mental illness and professional help-seeking. Data from abnormal psychology students (N 190) were used to determine if and how students ’ attitudes toward mental illness and professional help-seeking attitudes change over time. The study also examined whether stigma-related variables were influenced by student presentations about personal experiences with mental illness. With few exceptions, stigma-related variables did not change over time or in relation to student presentations. Implications for research and teaching to improve attitudes toward mental illness and professional help-seeking are discussed. Keywords mental illness stigma, mental health help-seeking, attitude change, abnormal psychology, teaching The stigma of mental illness encompasses negative stereotyp-ing, prejudice, and discrimination against individuals with mental illness (Goffman, 1963; Link & Phelan, 2001) and dis-courages help-seeking for mental health problems (Satcher, 2000). Abnormal psychology courses highlight the insidious effects of stigma and expose students to accurate informatio