Training mental health activists increases the well-being of participants with high baseline levels of self-stigma

Results of the Obertament training evaluation

Bibliographic Data

ID9053536
AuthorsFrancisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa (0000-0002-4163-6545, Yale University), María Lomascolo (Agencia Catalana de L'Aigua)
Year2018
Volume88
Issue6
Pages617-625
Publication date2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9432 • E-ISSN: 1939-0025
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/ort0000376
PMID30475050
OpenAlexW2902959717
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited10

There is a strong interest in improving the quality of anti-stigma contact-based interventions. Hence, some mental health anti-stigma campaigns offer prior training to their activists with lived experience of mental disorders. Additionally, collective mobilization seems to impact the identity and well-being of its participants. The main objective of this work was to understand the impact that activism training activities have on the internalized/self-stigma and well-being of activists being trained by the Obertament alliance against stigma in mental health. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory and the Pemberton Happiness Index were used to measure internalized stigma and well-being, respectively, at the beginning and the end of anti-stigma training courses. Sixty-eight activists receiving training were enrolled within a pretest, posttest, 1-group design. A total of 39 participants were included in repeated measures calculations. Twenty-seven participants did not complete the total training schedule and two more did not complete baseline assessment. Our results show generalized increases in well-being and decreases in the internalized stigma of participants. Additionally, a covariation between these changes was found. To further illustrate this covariation, separate groups were created using the baseline median. Hence, greater increases in well-being were for those participants with higher levels of baseline self-stigma and vice versa. This article shows the importance of addressing internalized stigma among mental health activists, thus boosting their recovery process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)

Happiness · MEDLINE · Mental health · Mental illness · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychotherapist · PsycINFO · Stigma (botany) · Well-being · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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