The effects of mental health education on reducing stigma and increasing positive attitudes toward seeking therapy

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Counseling, 2008Stigma associated with mental health care is an important factor in people???s decision to seek out and engage in psychotherapy or counseling. Many previous studies have suggested that educating individuals about mental health can be an effective tool in reducing stigma towards seeking mental health services. This thesis attempted to measure the effects of mental health education on students??? endorsements of self stigma and social stigma, as well as attitudes towards counseling, and intentions to seek counseling. Social stigma associated with seeking mental health services is the perception that a person who seeks psychological treatment is undesirable or socially unacceptable. Self stigma is the internalization of social stigma or the belief that if one needs psychological treatment he or she is inferior. \ud Several surveys were used in this study to assess the relationship between social and self stigma to attitudes toward seeking psychological help and intentions to seek counseling. A Pearson Correlation revealed that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between ratings of self stigma and attitudes toward \ud the experimental group exposed to a brief session of Mental Health Education were more likely to seek counseling services than individuals in the control group. \ud This study did not find support for the hypothesis that individuals exposed to a brief session of Mental Health Education will have more positive attitudes toward seeking psychological services. Additionally, this study did not find support for the hypotheses that individuals exposed to Mental Health Education will have lower ratings of social stigma and self stigma. The findings here indicate that while there is a significant relationship between stigmas and attitudes toward seeking help that brief mental health education did not improve these attitudes