HOAX: A cross-media project to tackle stigma in mental health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HOAX Our Right to Hope: A cross-media project to tackle stigma in mental health
IRAS ID
211315
Contact name
Paul French
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Stigma associated with mental health difficulties is pervasive within society. Stigma has been described as having two major dimensions: public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma consists of the negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviours held by society towards an individual with mental health difficulties and self-stigma is the internalisation of public stigma into self-identity. Public stigma has been identified as a significant barrier to recovery because it can discourage early help-seeking behaviour and is associated with reduced employment opportunities and social exclusion, poorer physical health care and reduced life expectancy. Conversely, self-stigma is associated with lower quality of life, reduced hope, self-esteem, empowerment, and beliefs that one can fully recover as well as blaming oneself for the illness and worsening of symptoms. Psychosis is one of the most stigmatising mental health difficulties resulting in a wider range of social, economic and psychological problems. \n\nOwing to the importance of tackling stigma directed towards individuals experiencing mental health difficulties, anti-stigma campaigns that adopt either an educational or contact approach to stigma have been developed. These anti-stigma programs have been shown to be effective in reducing stigma and discrimination and have used various media formats such as drama, artwork, and class discussions to achieve these outcomes. However, anti-stigma approaches to date are somewhat limited in that the approach has been delivered solely through one form of media and has focused on self-stigma or public stigma. HOAX Our Right to Hope aims to use three different types of media; a stage musical, a graphic novel and an app, to reduce stigma and raise awareness about psychosis. We want to find out whether this approach is effective in reducing public stigma about psychosis and reducing self-stigma in individuals who may be experiencing mental health difficulties or who may be more likely to develop such difficulties. \n
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0554
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion