Modifying attitudes to mental health using comedy as a delivery medium
Norman Jones1, Maya Twardzicki, John Ryan
1Academic Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Weston Education Centre, Cutcombe Road, London, SE5 9RJ, UK, Norman.Jones@kcl.ac.uk.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|April 10, 2014
Summary
Stand-up comedy featuring mental health information reduced stigma among UK Armed Forces (UK AF) personnel temporarily. While the long-term impact requires further study, this approach may aid future mental health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Military mental health research
- Public health interventions
- Stigma reduction strategies
Background:
- Military personnel often exhibit reluctance in seeking mental health support.
- Beliefs about others' perceptions significantly influence mental health help-seeking behaviors.
- United Kingdom Armed Forces (UK AF) have implemented initiatives to encourage help-seeking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate stand-up comedy as a novel stigma-reduction method within the UK AF.
- To assess the impact of a comedy show incorporating mental health information on service personnel.
- To examine changes in mental health stigma, knowledge, and help-seeking behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A study involving UK AF personnel who viewed either a standard comedy show or one with mental health content.
- Measurements of military stigmatization, discrimination, mental health knowledge, help-seeking, coping behaviors, and alcohol use were taken pre-show, post-show, and at a 3-month follow-up.
- Response rates varied across measurement points, with 81.3% pre-show, 67.6% post-show, and 18.9% at follow-up.
Main Results:
- Participants in the intervention group reported significantly reduced stigmatization and improved mental health knowledge immediately post-show.
- While these specific differences were not maintained at follow-up, intervention group personnel were more likely to discuss mental health.
- Adjusted analyses indicated that the increased likelihood of discussing mental health was associated with factors independent of the comedy show itself.
Conclusions:
- Embedding mental health awareness in a comedy format demonstrated a short-term positive effect on reducing mental health stigma in UK AF personnel.
- The low follow-up rate limited the assessment of the intervention's durability.
- Further research is needed to confirm the long-term effects, but comedy shows could be a component of comprehensive stigma-reduction strategies.
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