Abstract:
Two hundred and thirty-six students in grades four through eight participated in a study
to explore changes in attitudes toward peers with mental illness and knowledge about mental
illness following a brief mental health lesson. Previous research has explored the efficacy of
stigma reduction programs for adults and adolescents; however, few have explored the efficacy
of stigma reduction programs for children aged 12 and under. Furthermore, the vast majority of
studies have not evaluated whether changes sustain over time. Participants completed pre, post
and three month follow-up surveys to measure stigmatizing attitudes towards peers with mental
health issues and knowledge about mental illness. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM)
determined differences in knowledge about mental illness as well as personal and public stigma
over time. Grade was additionally explored as a predictor of knowledge and stigma scores.
Overall, results supported the short and longer-term effectiveness of this brief mental health
education program to positively impact students' attitudes toward peers with mental illness.
