A performing arts intervention to decrease suicide stigma on campus: A three time point assessment of "Every
Orrin D Ware1, Mimi V Chapman1, Denise Yookong Williams1
1School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
PLOS Mental Health
|February 9, 2026
Summary
Attending the interactive play "Every Brilliant Thing" slightly reduced stigma surrounding suicidality. This suggests fine arts can be a powerful tool in addressing suicide stigma and encouraging help-seeking behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and the Arts
- Public Health Interventions
- Mental Health Stigma Research
Background:
- Suicidality and suicide loss remain stigmatized topics, often considered taboo in public discourse.
- The fine arts possess a unique capacity to explore sensitive subjects that are difficult for society to confront directly.
- Interactive performances offer novel avenues for engaging audiences with challenging themes like suicide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the interactive performance "Every Brilliant Thing" on reducing the stigma associated with suicidality.
- To assess changes in suicide stigma at immediate post-performance and at a 30-day follow-up.
- To explore the potential of the fine arts as a tool for mental health stigma reduction.
Main Methods:
- An interactive performance tour of "Every Brilliant Thing" was conducted on a university campus.
- Attendees completed anonymous self-report surveys measuring the Stigma of Suicide Scale Short Form (SSS-SF) at pre-performance, post-performance, and 30-day follow-up.
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc tests analyzed changes in stigma scores across the three time points.
Main Results:
- A total of 196 participants completed the pre-performance survey, 151 post-performance, and 104 at 30-day follow-up.
- A slight mean decrease in overall suicide stigma scores (SSS-SF: Overall) was observed from pre-performance to post-performance.
- A slight decrease in overall suicide stigma was also noted from pre-performance to the 30-day follow-up, indicating sustained impact.
Conclusions:
- The interactive performance "Every Brilliant Thing" demonstrated a modest but measurable effect in reducing suicide stigma among attendees.
- Findings suggest that the fine arts can serve as an effective medium for addressing and mitigating the stigma surrounding suicidality.
- Given the critical need to reduce suicide stigma and increase access to services, integrating arts-based interventions is a promising strategy for public mental health.
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