Oral

Despite substantial strides in the scientific understanding of mental illness, stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors toward individuals experiencing mental health problems are unrelenting. People with mental illnesses continue to experience discrimination, intolerance, rejection, and despair, which impede their capacity to lead satisfying and fulfilling lives. Moreover, stigma has been identified as a major cause of persons delaying or not seeking help. In response to these serious consequences, and knowing that these negative attitudes develop during childhood, one community developed a school-based anti-stigma curriculum as part of an award-winning anti-stigma public awareness campaign. We report initial results of a four-year study designed to evaluate the short and long term effectiveness of 1) the curriculum, 2) contact with a person who has a mental illness, and 3) use of supplemental materials with anti-stigma messages on knowledge acquisition, along with social, attitudinal and help-seeking behaviors. In this five-part symposium, we will 1) document the need for intervention in sixth-graders in survey of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, 2) examine the development and implementation of the curriculum, 3) report on the findings of our unprecedented 2x2x2 pre post-test factorial group, randomized controlled study (N=721), and examine 4) race/ethnic and 5) socioeconomic differences in the landscape of attitudes and behaviors. The results will reveal whether the intervention is effective, for whom it is effective and whether and to what extent pockets of additional need for intervention remain.

Session Objectives: Explain the need for intervention in sixth grade children in survey of knowledge attitudes and beliefs. Discuss the development and implementation of the curriculum. Describe the findings of our unprecedented 2 x 2 x 2 (curriculum, contact, materials) pre post-test factorial group, randomized controlled study.Evaluate race/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in the landscape of attitudes and behaviors.