Changing Minds: Measuring the Impact of a Student-Led Club to Reduce Mental Health Stigma Among Teenagers

Introduction: Stigma is a major barrier for teenagers to access mental health services. Additional barriers include low health literacy, and demographic factors, such as gender, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity. Studies show that successful solutions to decreasing stigma involve interventions inside of schools. The purpose of this project was to measure impact of the Bring Change 2 Mind (BC2M) program and recommend program improvement needs. Methods: Four survey instruments were used to evaluate BC2M’s student-led club program and to determine the club’s impact on reducing stigma at each participating high school. Each survey consisted of both qualitative and quantitative questions fielded to four different type of participants involved in the program. Results: Key findings from the four surveys identified that 64 percent of graduating seniors and 78 percent of club advisors felt the club made a difference on their campus. Club members felt that mental health advocacy, safe space, and knowledge building were the most enjoyable aspects of the club. The top three skills gained from being involved in the club were knowledge of mental health issues, knowledge of mental health resources, and leadership skills. Discussion: Student-led clubs are making an impact by engaging youth through peer to peer conversations, education and support on campus. The evidence from this project suggests that the presence of the club may lead to an increased positive environment on campus, but reduction in reduction of mental health stigma among teenagers need further research. Future studies should include demographic data collection to address the additional factors which influence the prevalence of stigma in a community