A Single-Day Training for Managers Reduces Cognitive Stigma Regarding Mental Health Problems: A Randomized Trial

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychiatry
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Mental illnesses are increasingly recognized in the workplace but often carry stigma.
• Workplace interventions are a key strategy for reducing mental health stigma.
• This study assessed a workshop designed for managers in a large corporation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a one-day workshop aimed at reducing stigma towards mental illness among managers.
• To assess the impact of the workshop on managers' knowledge, attitudes, and stress levels.

Main Methods:

• Seventy managers were randomized into an intervention group or a waiting control group.
• The intervention included education on mental health, stress, and managing employees with mental illness.
• Standardized questionnaires were administered at baseline and three months post-training.

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in mental health knowledge (Mental Health Knowledge Schedule).
• Managers in the intervention group showed a significant increase in the Irritation Scale.
• No significant changes were observed in subjective stress levels or social distance.

Conclusions:

• The workshop content and duration were sufficient to reduce cognitive stigma associated with mental illness.
• The intervention did not lead to a significant improvement in the subjective stress experienced by managers.
• Further interventions may be needed to address stress reduction in managers.