Interventions to Reduce Stigma Related to Mental Illnesses in Educational Institutes: a Systematic Review

Abstract

This investigation reviews the effectiveness of anti-stigma interventions employed at educational institutes; to improve knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding mental health disorders among students. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist guidelines were followed and protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018114535). Forty four randomized controlled trials were considered eligible after screening of 104 full-text articles against inclusion and exclusion criteria.Several interventions have been employed to tackle stigma toward psychiatric illnesses, including education through lectures and case scenarios, contact-based interventions, and role-plays as strategies to address stigma towards mental illnesses. A high proportion of trials noted that there was a significant improvement for stigma (19/25, 76%), attitude (8/11, 72%), helping-seeking (8/11, 72%), knowledge of mental health including recognition of depression (11/14, 78%), and social distance (4/7, 57%). These interventions also helped in reducing both public and self-stigma. Majority of the studies showed that the anti-stigma interventions were successful in improving mental health literacy, attitude and beliefs towards mental health illnesses.

Keywords: Anxiety; Autism; Depression; Institutions; Interventions; Mental health; Psychosis; Stigma.

Fig. 1

PRISMA Flow Diagram

Fig. 2

Risk of Bias Graph

Fig. 3

Mental health conditions targeted in stigma reduction interventions

Fig. 4

Summary of strategies employed in stigma reduction interventions

Fig. 5

Proportion of studies demonstrating reduction in stigma related outcomes