An Intervention Framework for Addressing Stigma on College Campuses: Findings From a 3-Year-Long Intervention Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Intervention Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened mental health issues in college students.
• Stigma surrounding mental health prevents students from seeking necessary care.
• Colleges need evidence-based strategies to combat mental health stigma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a stakeholder-led antistigma intervention on a college campus.
• To provide evidence for implementing antistigma interventions in higher education settings.
• To assess the intervention's impact on personal stigma and mental health care knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year longitudinal study involving unique random samples of college students (N=1727).
• Implementation of a stakeholder-led antistigma intervention on a Southeastern US college campus.
• Preintervention and postintervention surveys measuring demographics, stigma, and mental health care knowledge.

Main Results:

• The intervention significantly decreased personal stigma among participating students.
• Exposure to the intervention led to increased mental health care knowledge.
• The findings provide empirical support for the intervention's positive effects.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholder-led interventions can effectively reduce mental health stigma in college students.
• Increased mental health care knowledge is a positive outcome of antistigma efforts.
• Further research should explore the feasibility and efficacy of this intervention framework across diverse campuses.