Decreasing Mental Illness Stigma through Peer to Peer Socialization during an Mental Health Awareness Walk at an International University

Conference: The Asian Conference on Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences (ACP2022)
Title: Decreasing Mental Illness Stigma through Peer to Peer Socialization during an Mental Health Awareness Walk at an International University
Stream: Mental Health
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
Authors:
Eric Orr, Brigham Young University Hawaii, United States

Abstract:

A Mental Health Awareness walk at an international university campus has been conducted yearly for the purpose of decreasing stigma, increasing awareness, and improving knowledge about mental illness while increasing accessibility to mental health services. These annual events include peer to peer instruction, small group facilitation by peer mentors, direct exposure to individuals with mental illness, normalization of speaking about personal and familial histories of mental illness, and normalizing experiences of mental health. Statistically Significant Increase of Mental Health Awareness and Knowledge as well as Decrease in Stigma were demonstrated through pre and post assessments among walking participants, peer mentors, and student presenters. Principles of Self Perception, Social Identity Theory, Social Psychology of Prejudice, and Social Modeling theory will be discussed as organizing principles of the Mental Health Awareness Walk. Suggestions for strategies of decreasing stigma, increasing knowledge and awareness, and increasing accessibility to mental health services will be discussed.

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