Mental Health Stigma Prevention: Pilot Testing a Novel, Language Arts Curriculum-Based Approach for Youth.
BACKGROUND
Researchers have emphasized the importance of integrating mental health education with academic curriculum. The focus of the current studies was Mental Health Matters (MHM), a mental health curriculum that is integrated with English language arts. It is taught by trained community member volunteers and aims to increase knowledge and decrease stigma toward individuals with mental health disorders.


METHODS
In Study 1, 142 sixth graders participated in MHM and completed pre- and postprogram measures of mental health knowledge, stigma, and program acceptability. Teachers also completed ratings of acceptability. Study 2 (N = 120 seventh graders) compared participants who had participated in MHM the previous year with those who had not using the same measures.


RESULTS
Sixth grade students and teachers rated the program as highly acceptable. Participants significantly increased their knowledge and decreased their levels of stigma. Seventh graders who had participated in MHM had significantly more mental health knowledge than peers who had not, but there were no differences in stigma.


CONCLUSIONS
The model appears to be acceptable to students and teachers. Future research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of integrating mental health education with other academic curriculum such as language arts or science.
['Weisman|Hannah L|HL|0000-0001-6691-3628', 'Kia-Keating|Maryam|M|', 'Lippincott|Ann|A|', 'Taylor|Zachary|Z|', 'Zheng|Jimmy|J|']
D000293:Adolescent D002648:Child D003258:Consumer Behavior D003479:Curriculum D005260:Female D006266:Health Education D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D007803:Language Arts D008297:Male D008603:Mental Health D010865:Pilot Projects D057545:Social Stigma
mental health stigma curriculum child and adolescent health school health instruction