Reactions to Solidarity Versus Normalcy Messages for Antistigma Campaigns.

This study considers two of many messages that are used in antistigma campaigns: normalcy, that mental illness is like most kinds of illness-"You are just like me," and solidarity, that one's mental illness is accepted-"I stand with you." This study examined how research participants rated message merit: understandable, effective, and compelling. We particularly examined how views on message merit varied by whether participants reported previous mental health experience.

Three agendas for changing the public stigma of mental illness.

Objective: Antistigma programs may be guided by 3 differing agendas: services (promote treatment engagement), rights (help people achieve rightful goals), and self-worth (facilitate self-worth and efficacy). This study examined the construct validity of this perspective by examining the factor structure of importance ratings of the 3 agendas. The study examined how importance might be viewed differently by the population as a whole versus a subsample of people who reported previous experience with mental health services and hence could be directly harmed by stigma.

Self-Stigma, Identity, and Co-Occurring Disorders.

Background: A four stage regressive model that links public stigma to self-stigma is applied to mental illness and substance use disorder. We assess this four stage model in those with co-occurring disorders versus those who have mental illness or substance use disorder alone.

Method: 366 people who self-identified as having either a mental illness or co-occurring mental illness with substance use disorder were recruited from MTurk and completed measures on identity and self-stigma.

Changing public stigma with continuum beliefs.

Background: Given the egregious effect of public stigma on the lives of people with mental illness, researchers have sought to unpack and identify effective components of anti-stigma programs.

Aim: We expect to show that continuum messages have more positive effect on stigma and affirming attitudes (beliefs that people with mental illness recover and should be personally empowered) than categorical perspectives. The effect of continuum beliefs will interact with contact strategies.

Examining the Impact of Public Service Announcements on Help Seeking and Stigma: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Health communication campaigns often seek to diminish stigma and promote care seeking, with public service announcements (PSAs) frequently prominent in these campaigns. One example is the Australian-based beyondblue campaign. As an alternative approach, campaigns may seek to reduce stigma by promoting stories of recovery.