Challenging Stigma Through Experiential Learning in Clinical and Non-Clinical Mental Health Trainees

Mental health stigma is a pervasive issue which can adversely affect patient care and outcomes. Stigma may manifest through discrimination and negative stereotypes, and can be damaging when inadvertently perpetuated by practitioners and trainees. This study aims explore the effect of experiential learning in decreasing stigma measured by changes in the perceived attitudes and behaviours of trainees at a specialized mental health hospital. Participants (N = 139) are trainees who were scheduled to undergo clinical or non-clinical placement at a mental health hospital. Participants completed a demographic survey prior to placement and a qualitative student evaluation after placement. Validated scales measuring changes in attitude (MICA-4) and behaviour (RIBS), were used as both pre- and post-placement evaluations. Trainee placement variations were accounted for using correlation analysis of the MICA-4 and RIBS data. Most participants identified as females with a college or university education, in their second to fourth years of study. Analysis of both MICA-4 (P = 0.0001) and RIBS (P = 0.009) revealed significant differences between pre-placement and post-placement scores on stigma-related attitudes and behaviours, respectively. These results were supported by qualitative responses which revealed alignment with recovery-oriented philosophy and reflections of stigma. Overall, this study demonstrates possible benefits of experiential learning in mental health care settings to address stigma in clinical and non-clinical trainees.