Changes in beliefs and attitudes toward people with depression and schizophrenia - results of a public campaign in Germany

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in beliefs and attitudes toward people with depression and schizophrenia - results of a public campaign in Germany

AU - Makowski, Anna C

AU - Mnich, Eva E

AU - Ludwig, Julia

AU - Daubmann, Anne

AU - Bock, Thomas

AU - Lambert, Martin

AU - Härter, Martin

AU - Dirmaier, Jörg

AU - Tlach, Lisa

AU - Liebherz, Sarah

AU - von dem Knesebeck, Olaf

N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2016/3/30

Y1 - 2016/3/30

N2 - We examined the impact of a mental health awareness campaign on public attitudes. The campaign was embedded in the project psychenet - Hamburg Network for Mental Health. Beliefs and attitudes were examined before and after specific awareness measures in Hamburg (intervention region) and Munich (control region). Analyses were based on representative surveys (2011: N=2014; 2014: N=2006). Vignettes with symptoms suggestive of depression respectively schizophrenia were presented, followed by questions on social distance, beliefs and emotional reactions. Analyses of variance tested variations between regions over time and differences between those aware of the campaign and those not aware. In 2014, 7.3% (n=74) of the Hamburg respondents were aware of the psychenet campaign. Regarding the total sample, there were minor changes in attitudes. Differentiated according to campaign awareness among Hamburg respondents, those who were aware showed less desire for social distance toward a person with depression. Moreover, respondents aware of the campaign stated less often that a person with schizophrenia is in need of help. The campaign had small impact on attitudes. A substantial change in ingrained attitudes toward persons with mental health problems is difficult to achieve with interventions targeting the general public.

AB - We examined the impact of a mental health awareness campaign on public attitudes. The campaign was embedded in the project psychenet - Hamburg Network for Mental Health. Beliefs and attitudes were examined before and after specific awareness measures in Hamburg (intervention region) and Munich (control region). Analyses were based on representative surveys (2011: N=2014; 2014: N=2006). Vignettes with symptoms suggestive of depression respectively schizophrenia were presented, followed by questions on social distance, beliefs and emotional reactions. Analyses of variance tested variations between regions over time and differences between those aware of the campaign and those not aware. In 2014, 7.3% (n=74) of the Hamburg respondents were aware of the psychenet campaign. Regarding the total sample, there were minor changes in attitudes. Differentiated according to campaign awareness among Hamburg respondents, those who were aware showed less desire for social distance toward a person with depression. Moreover, respondents aware of the campaign stated less often that a person with schizophrenia is in need of help. The campaign had small impact on attitudes. A substantial change in ingrained attitudes toward persons with mental health problems is difficult to achieve with interventions targeting the general public.

U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.01.029

DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.01.029

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 26805560

VL - 237

SP - 271

EP - 278

JO - PSYCHIAT RES

JF - PSYCHIAT RES

SN - 0165-1781

ER -