The power of film to reduce stigma of mental health conditions

Figures & data

Table 1. Population Characteristics

Variables	Total	Mental Health Professional n = 42 (16.5%)	Not Mental Health Professional n = 212 (83.5%)	Chi-square/ Fisher’s exact test
	N (%)	N (%)	N (%)	p-value
Age Age 18–25 Age 26–49 Age>49	99 (40.9) 71 (29.3) 72 (29.8)	7 (17.5) 22 (55.0) 11 (27.5)	92 (45.5) 49 (24.3) 61 (30.2)	0.0002
Gender Men Women	45 (17.7) 208 (81.9)	3 (7.1) 39 (92.9)	42 (19.8) 169 (79.7)	0.0482
I have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Yes No	80 (31.5) 161 (63.4)	17 (40.5) 23 (54.8)	63 (29.7) 138 (65.1)	0.1712
I have disclosed my own mental illness to members of my family (of those diagnosed with a mental illness) Yes No	75 (93.8) 5 (6.3)	15 (88.2) 2 (11.8)	60 (95.2) 3 (4.8)	0.2864
I have disclosed my own mental illness to my friends. Yes No	70 (87.5) 9 (11.4)	15 (88.2) 2 (11.8)	55 (87.3) 7 (11.3)	1.0000
I have a friend or relative who has a mental illness. Yes No	236 (92.9) 18 (7.1)	39 (92.9) 3 (7.1)	197 (92.9) 15 (7.1)	1.000
I have worked with a person who had a mental illness at my place of employment. Yes No	180 (70.9) 74 (29.1)	40 (95.2) 2 (4.8)	140 (66.0) 72 (22.9)	<0.0001
Location Northeast Midwest Southeast West Southwest	94 (37.0) 71 (27.9) 27 (10.6) 47 (18.5) 15 (5.9)	9 (21.4) 7 (16.7) 8 (19.1) 9 (21.4) 9 (21.4)	85 (40.1) 64 (30.2) 19 (8.9) 38 (17.9) 6 (2.8)	<0.0001
Location Type Private university Public university Not a university	105 (41.3) 115 (45.3) 34 (13.4)	14 (33.3) 22 (52.4) 6 (14.3)	91 (45.9) 93 (43.9) 28 (13.2)	0.5037
[After the film] I am more likely to disclose my mental illness to my family. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Prefer not to say	6 (3.6) 12 (7.1) 25 (14.9) 52 (30.9) 61 (36.3) 12 (7.1)	1 (3.5) 1 (3.5) 5 (17.2) 6 (20.7) 13 (44.8) 3 (10.3)	5 (3.6) 11 (7.9) 20 (14.4) 46 (33.1) 48 (34.5) 9 (6.5)	0.6694
[After the film] I am more likely to disclose my mental illness to my friends. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree	4 (5.1) 3 (3.8) 8 (10.3) 23 (29.1) 41 (51.9)	0 0 1 (5.9) 4 (23.5) 12 (70.6)	4 (6.5) 3 (4.8) 7 (11.3) 19 (30.7) 29 (46.8)	0.0182

Table 2. Stigma of mental health conditions (QPSS) comparing pre- and post- survey results stratified by mental health professional

	All Participants (n = 254)			Not mental health professional (n = 212)			Mental health professional (n = 42)
Question	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value
“I would willingly accept a person that had a diagnosed mental illness as a close friend.”
Mean (SD)	4.34 (0.79)	4.60 (0.58)	−6.56, −0.26, 0.63, 0.43, <0.0001	4.58 (0.59)	4.74 (0.49)	−6.27, −0.28, 0.66, 0.43, <0.0001	4.59 (0.63)	4.74 (0.49)	−1.96, −0.14, 0.47, 0.30, 0.0568
Not At All	0	0		0	0		0	0
A little	3 (1.2)	1 (0.4)		3 (1.4)	1 (0.5)		0	0
Some	42 (16.5)	9 (3.5)		39 (18.4)	8 (3.8)		3 (7.1)	1 (2.4)
A lot	74 (29.1)	80 (31.5)		63 (29.7)	71 (33.5)		11 (26.2)	9 (21.4)
A great deal	135 (53.2)	164 (64.6)		107 (50.5)	132 (62.3)		28 (66.7)	32 (76.2)
“I am afraid of people with a mental health illness.”
Mean (SD)	1.68 (0.69)	1.53 (0.69)	3.38, 0.15, 0.69, 0.21, 0.0008	1.73 (0.69)	1.56 (0.69)	3.34, 0.17, 0.72, 0.23, 0.0010	1.49 (0.63)	1.38 (0.62)	0.63, 0.05, 0.49, 0.10, 0.5336
Not At All	115 (45.3)	143 (56.3)		88 (41.5)	115 (54.3)		27 (64.3)	28 (66.7)
A little	106 (41.7)	90 (35.4)		94 (44.3)	77 (36.3)		12 (28.6)	13 (30.9)
Some	33 (12.9)	19 (7.5)		30 (14.2)	19 (8.9)		3 (7.1)	0
A lot	0	1 (0.4)		0	0		0	1 (2.4)
A great deal	0	1 (0.4)		0	1 (0.4)		0	0
“I would believe that a person who has been in a mental hospital is just as intelligent as the average person.”
Mean (SD)	4.46 (0.76)	4.74 (0.54)	−6.16, −0.28, 0.71, 0.39, <0.0001	4.71 (0.57)	4.86 (0.35)	−5.60, −0.29, 0.76, 0.38, <0.0001	4.67 (0.61)	4.86 (0.35)	−3.11, −0.19, 0.39, 0.49, 0.0034
Not At All	1 (0.4)	1 (0.4)		1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)		0	0
A little	3 (1.2)	0		3 (1.4)	0		0	0
Some	26 (10.2)	6 (2.4)		23 (10.9)	6 (2.8)		3 (7.1)	0
A lot	72 (28.4)	51 (20.1)		64 (30.2)	45 (21.2)		8 (19.1)	6 (14.3)
A great deal	152 (59.8)	196 (77.2)		121 (57.1)	160 (75.5)		31 (73.8)	36 (85.7)
“I believe that a person with a history of mental illness is just as trustworthy as the average person.”
Mean (SD)	3.88 (0.92)	4.25 (0.83)	−7.05, −0.37, 0.84, 0.44, <0.0001	4.19 (0.86)	4.57 (0.59)	−6.10, −0.35, 0.84, 0.42, <0.0001	4.12 (0.80)	4.57 (0.59)	−3.65, −0.45, 0.80, 0.56, 0.0007
Not At All	2 (0.8)	2 (0.8)		2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)		0	0
A little	11 (4.3)	4 (1.6)		11 (5.2)	4 (1.9)		0	0
Some	78 (30.7)	40 (15.8)		67 (31.6)	38 (17.9)		11 (26.2)	2 (4.8)
A lot	87 (34.3)	90 (35.4)		72 (33.9)	76 (35.9)		15 (35.7)	14 (33.3)
A great deal	76 (29.9)	118 (46.5)		60 (28.3)	92 (43.4)		16 (38.1)	26 (61.9)
“If I were an employer, I would hire a person with a history of mental illness if s/he is qualified for the job.”
Mean (SD)	4.11 (0.83)	4.25 (0.70)	−6.85, −0.31, 0.72, 0.43, <0.0001	4.37 (0.73)	4.69 (0.47)	−6.08, −0.31, 0.75, 0.41, <0.0001	4.38 (0.66)	4.69 (0.47)	−3.32, −0.31, 0.60, 0.52, 0.0019
Not At All	0	0		0	0		0	0
A little	9 (3.5)	2 (0.8)		9 (4.3)	2 (0.9)		0	0
Some	48 (18.9)	25 (9.8))		44 (20.8)	25 (11.8)		4 (9.5)	0
A lot	102 (40.2)	90 (35.4)		84 (39.6)	77 (36.3)		18 (42.9)	13 (30.9)
A great deal	95 (37.4)	137 (53.9)		75 (35.4)	108 (50.9)		20 (47.6)	29 (69.1)
“I would treat a person with a history of mental illness just as I would treat anyone.”
Mean (SD)	4.31 (0.81)	4.61 (0.62)	−6.55, −0.30, 0.74, 0.41, <0.0001	4.60 (0.63)	4.67 (0.53)	−5.99, −0.31, 0.75, 0.41, <0.0001	4.38 (0.76)	4.67 (0.53)	−2.61, −0.29, 0.71, 0.41, 0.0125
Not At All	0	0		0	0		0	0
A little	5 (1.9))	1 (0.4)		5 (2.4)	1 (0.5)		0	0
Some	40 (15.8)	15 (5.9)		33 (15.6)	14 (6.6)		7 (16.7)	1 (2.4)
A lot	80 (31.5)	65 (25.6)		68 (32.1)	53 (25.0)		12 (28.6)	12 (28.6)
A great deal	129 (50.8)	173 (68.1)		106 (50.0)	144 (67.9)		23 (54.8)	29 (69.1)
“I would be reluctant to date someone who has been hospitalized for a mental illness.”
Mean (SD)	2.47 (1.08)	2.20 (1.01)	4.46, 0.27, 0.96, 0.28, <0.0001	2.49 (1.05)	2.23 (1.02)	4.06, 0.26, 0.95, 0.27, <0.0001	2.36 (1.25)	2.07 (0.97)	1.82, 0.29, 1.02, 0.28, 0.0765
Not At All	46 (18.1)	73 (28.7)		33 (15.6)	58 (27.4)		13 (30.9)	15 (35.7)
A little	97 (38.2)	89 (35.0)		85 (40.1)	77 (36.3)		12 (28.6)	12 (28.6)
Some	71 (27.9)	62 (24.4)		62 (29.3)	50 (23.6)		9 (21.4)	12 (28.7)
A lot	25 (9.8)	27 (910.6)		20 (9.4)	24 (11.3)		5 (11.9)	3 (7.1)
A great deal	15 (5.9)	3 (1.2)		12 (5.7)	3 (1.4)		3 (7.1)	0
“If I knew a person had been hospitalized for a mental health illness, I would value his or her opinions less seriously.”
Mean (SD)	1.35 (0.79)	1.21 (0.66)	2.85, 0.14, 0.79, 0.18, 0.0047	1.39 (0.84)	1.19 (0.63)	3.63, 0.19, 0.78, 0.24, 0.0004	1.17 (0.38)	1.29 (0.81)	−0.93, −0.12, 0.83, 0.14, 0.3594
Not At All	196 (77.2)	220 (86.6)		161 (75.9)	185 (87.3)		35 (83.3)	35 (83.3)
A little	39 (15.4)	24 (9.5)		32 (15.1)	19 (8.9)		7 (16.7)	5 (11.9)
Some	10 (3.9)	4 (1.6)		10 (4.7)	4 (1.9)		0	0
A lot	25 (9.8)	2 (0.8)		5 (2.4)	1 (0.5)		0	1 (2.4)
A great deal	15 (5.9)	4 (1.6)		4 (1.9)	3 (1.4)		0	1 (2.4)
SCALE PRE-POST (mean (SD))	33.6 (4.2)	35.7 (3.7)	−11.34, −2.07, 2.91, 0.71, <0.0001	33.3 (4.2)	35.5 (3.8)	−10.35, −2.17, 3.05, 0.71, <0.0001	35.2 (4.2)	36.8 (3.8)	−5.05, −1.59, 2.05, 0.78, <0.0001

Table 3. Stigma of mental health treatment comparing pre- and post- survey results stratified by mental health professional

	All Participants (n = 254)			Not mental health professional (n = 212)			Mental health professional (n = 42)
Question	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value
“I would feel they were inadequate if they went to a therapist for psychological help.”
Mean (SD)	1.09 (0.41)	1.13 (0.59)	−1.21, −0.05, 0.62, 0.08, 0.2261	1.10 (0.44)	1.14 (0.59)	−0.78, −0.03, 0.62, 0.05, .4380			−1.22, −0.12, 0.63, 0.19 0.2295
Not At All	241 (94.9)	236 (92.9)		199 (93.9)	196 (92.5)		42 (100.0)	40 (95.2)
A little	6 (2.4)	12 (4.7)		2 (0.9)	11 (5.2)		0	1 (2.4)
Some	5 (1.9)	0		5 (2.4)	0		0	0
A lot	2 (0.8)	2 (0.8)		2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)		0	0
A great deal	0	4 (1.6)		0	3 (1.4)		0	1 (2.4)
“I would have more respect for them for seeking mental health care treatment.”
Mean (SD)	4.62 (0.69)	4.78 (0.55)	−3.71, −0.16, 0.68, 0.24, 0.0003	4.62 (0.67)	4.77 (0.57)	−3.31, −0.15, 0.66, 0.22, 0.0011			−1.67, −0.19, 0.74, 0.26, 0.1031
Not At All	3 (1.2)	1 (0.4)		2 (0.9)	1 (0.5)		1 (2.4)	0
A little	1 (0.4)	1 (0.4)		1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)		0	0
Some	9 (3.5)	8 (3.2)		8 (3.8)	7 (3.3)		1 (2.4)	1 (2.4)
A lot	62 (924.4)	32 (12.6)		53 (25.0)	27 (12.7)		9 (21.4)	5 (11.9)
A great deal	179 (70.5)	212 (82.5)		148 (69.8)	176 (83.0)		31 (73.8)	36 (85.7)
“My confidence in them would NOT be threatened if they sought professional help.”
Mean (SD)	3.51 (1.78)	4.83 (0.59)	−11.09, −1.32, 1.89, 0.69, <0.0001	3.56 (1.76)	4.82 (0.59)	−9.88, −1.26, 1.86, 0.68, <0.0001			−5.04, −1.62, 2.08, 0.79, <0.0001
Not At All	78 (30.7)	4 (1.6)		61 (28.8)	3 (1.4)		17 (40.5)	1 (2.4)
A little	5 (1.9)	1 (90.4)		5 (2.4)	1 (0.5)		0	0
Some	12 (4.7)	0		11 (5.2)	0		1 (2.4)	0
A lot	27 (10.6)	24 (9.5)		24 (11.3)	23 (10.9)		3 (7.1)	1 (2.4)
A great deal	132 (51.9)	225 (88.6)		111 (52.4)	185 (87.3)		21 (50.0)	40 (95.2)
“I would feel comfortable encouraging them to seek help.”
Mean (SD)	4.61 (0.82)	4.84 (0.48)	−4.54, −0.23, 0.80, 0.29, <0.0001	4.57 (0.84)	4.81 (0.52)	−4.30, −0.25, 0.83, 0.30, <0.0001			−1.43, −0.14, 0.65, 0.22, 0.1598
Not At All	5 (1.9)	1 (0.4)		4 (1.9)	1 (0.5)		1 (2.4)	0
A little	5 (1.9)	1 (0.4)		5 (2.4)	1 (0.5)		0	0
Some	10 (3.9)	3 (1.2)		10 (4.7)	3 (1.4)		0	0
A lot	43 (16.9)	27 (10.6)		41 (19.3)	27 (12.7)		2 (4.8)	0
A great deal	191 (75.2)	222 (87.4)		152 (71.7)	180 (84.9)		39 (92.9)	42 (100.0)
“It would make me feel they were inferior to ask a therapist for help.”
Mean (SD)	1.09 (0.49)	1.12 (0.49)	−0.81, −0.03, 0.62, 0.05, 0.4201	1.09 (0.46)	1.13 (0.46)	−0.98, −0.04, 0.56, 0.07, 0.3259			N/A
Not At All	244 (96.1)	233 (91.7)		203 (95.8)	192 (90.6)		41 (97.6)	41 (97.6)
A little	2 (0.8)	16 (6.3)		2 (0.9)	16 (7.6)		0	0
Some	5 (1.9)	2 (0.8)		5 (2.4)	2 (0.9)		0	0
A lot	1 (0.4)	1 (0.4)		1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)		0	0
A great deal	2 (0.8)	2 (0.8)		1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)		1 (2.4)	1 (2.4)
“I would feel comfortable sitting with them on their bad days.”
Mean (SD)	4.13 (0.97)	4.61 (0.74)	−8.17, −0.49, 0.95, 0.52, <0.0001	4.06 (0.94)	4.57 (0.79)	−7.68, −0.50, 0.96, 0.52, <0.0001			−2.79, −0.40, 0.94, 0.43, 0.0079
Not At All	5 (1.9)	4 (1.6)		3 (1.4)	4 (1.9)		2 (4.8)	0
A little	13 (5.1)	3 (1.2)		12 (5.7)	3 (1.4)		1 (2.4)	0
Some	35 (13.8)	6 (2.4)		33 (15.6)	6 (92.8)		2 (4.8)	0
A lot	93 (36.6)	61 (24.0)		85 (40.1)	55 (25.9)		8 (19.1)	6 (14.3)
A great deal	108 (42.5)	180 (70.9)		79 (37.3)	144 (67.9)		29 (69.1)	36 (85.7)

Table 4. Discrimination of people with mental health conditions comparing pre- and post- survey results stratified by mental health professional

	All Participants (n = 254)			Not mental health professional (n = 212)			Mental health professional (n = 42)
Question	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value	Pre	Post	T-value, Mean, SD, Cohen’s d, p-value
“How would you feel about renting a room in your home to someone with a mental illness?”
Mean (SD)	2.81 (0.71)	3.05 (0.73)	−6.20, −0.24, 0.62, 0.39, <0.0001	2.78 (0.70)	3.03 (0.74)	−6.01, −0.25, 0.62, 0.40, <0.0001	2.98 (0.75)	3.14 (0.72)	−1.74, −0.17, 0.62, 0.27, 0.0897
Definitely Unwilling	6 (2.4)	5 (1.9)		6 (2.8)	5 (2.4)		0	0
Probably Unwilling	75 (29.5)	47 (18.5)		63 (29.7)	39 (18.4)		12 (28.5)	8 (19.1)
Probably Willing	134 (52.8)	132 (51.9)		115 (54.3)	112 (52.8)		19 (45.2)	20 (47.6)
Definitely Willing	39 (15.4)	70 (27.6)		28 (13.2)	56 (26.4)		11 (26.2)	14 (33.3)
“How would you feel about working with someone with a mental illness?”
Mean (SD)	3.61 (0.53)	3.77 (0.47)	−4.69, −0.15, 0.52, 0.29, <0.0001	3.59 (0.54)	3.75 (0.49)	−4.26, −0.16, 0.53, 0.30, <0.0001	3.74 (0.45)	3.88 (0.33)	−1.96, −0.14, 0.47, 0.29, 0.0568
Definitely Unwilling	0	1 (0.4)		0	1 (0.5)		0	0
Probably Unwilling	5 (1.9)	2 (0.8)		5 (2.4)	2 (0.9)		0	0
Probably Willing	88 (34.7)	52 (20.5)		77 (36.3)	47 (22.2)		11 (26.2)	5 (11.9)
Definitely Willing	161 (63.4)	199 (78.4)		130 (61.3)	162 (76.4)		31 (73.8)	37 (88.1)
“How would you feel about having someone with a mental illness as your neighbor?”
Mean (SD)	3.60 (0.54)	3.76 (0.45)	−4.85, −0.16, 0.52, 0.31, <0.0001	3.58 (0.54)	3.75 (0.47)	−4.36, −0.16, 0.54, 0.29, <0.0001	3.69 (0.52)	3.83 (0.38)	−2.22, −0.14, 0.42, 0.33, 0.0321
Definitely Unwilling	1 (0.4)	0		1 (0.5)	0		0	0
Probably Unwilling	3 (1.2)	3 (1.2)		2 (0.9)	3 (1.4)		1 (2.4)	0
Probably Willing	92 (36.2)	55 (21.7)		81 (38.2)	48 (22.6)		11 (26.2)	7 (16.7)
Definitely Willing	158 (62.2)	196 (77.2)		128 (60.4)	161 (75.9)		30 (71.4)	35 (83.3)
“How would you feel about having someone with a mental health illness as the caretaker of your children?”
Mean (SD)	2.41 (0.76)	2.67 (0.79)	−6.61, −0.26, 0.62, 0.42, <0.0001	2.38 (0.76)	2.65 (0.81)	−6.37, −0.27, 0.61, 0.44, <0.0001	2.55 (0.77)	2.74 (0.66)	−1.95, −0.19, 0.64, 0.29, 0.0584
Definitely Unwilling	25 (9.8)	14 (5.5)		22 (10.4)	14 (6.6)		3 (7.1)	0
Probably Unwilling	118 (46.5)	93 (36.6)		101 (47.6)	93 (36.3)		17 (40.5)	16 (38.1)
Probably Willing	93 (36.6)	111 (43.7)		75 (35.4)	111 (42.5)		18 (42.9)	21 (50.0)
Definitely Willing	18 (7.1)	36 (14.2)		14 (6.6)	36 (14.6)		4 (9.5)	5 (11.9)
“How would you feel about introducing someone with a mental illness to your friends?”
Mean (SD)	3.66 (0.52)	3.79 (0.42)	−4.29, −0.14, 0.51, 0.27, <0.0001	3.63 (0.53)	3.78 (0.44)	−4.08, −0.15, 0.53, 0.28, <0.0001	3.79 (0.42)	3.86 (0.35)	−1.35, −0.07, 0.34, 0.21, 0.1829
Definitely Unwilling	1 (0.4)	0		1 (0.5)	0		0	0
Probably Unwilling	2 (0.8)	2 (0.8)		2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)		0	9
Probably Willing	80 (31.5)	48 (18.9)		71 (33.5)	42 (19.8)		9 (21.4)	6 (14.3)
Definitely Willing	171 (67.3)	204 (80.3)		138 (65.1)	168 (79.3)		33 (78.6)	36 (85.7)
“How would you feel about recommending someone with a mental illness for a job working with someone you know?”
Mean (SD)	3.27 (0.62)	3.53 (0.61)	−6.69, −0.26, 0.62, 0.42, <0.0001	3.24 (0.63)	3.50 (0.63)	−6.03, −0.26, 0.63, 0.41, <0.0001	3.40 (0.54)	3.67 (0.48)	−2.89, −0.26, 0.59, 0.44, 0.0061
Definitely Unwilling	0	2 (0.8)		0	2 (0.9)		0	0
Probably Unwilling	23 (9.1)	9 (3.5)		22 (10.4)	9 (4.3)		1 (2.4)	0
Probably Willing	140 (55.1)	96 (37.8)		117 (55.2)	82 (38.7)		23 (54.8)	14 (33.3)
Definitely Willing	91 (35.8)	147 (57.9)		73 (34.4)	119 (56.1)		18 (42.9)	28 (66.7)
SCALE PRE-POST (mean (SD))	19.4 (2.7)	20.6 (2.7)	−9.14, −1.20, 2.09, 0.57, <0.0001	20.1 (2.5)	21.1 (2.0)	−8.43, −1.25, 2.16, 0.58, <0.0001	35.2 (4.2)	36.8 (3.8)	−3.57, −0.98, 1.77, 0.55, 0.0009

Figure 1. Granular changes in attitudes for three key questions.

Figure 2. Venncloud showing the common words for both groups in black; mental health professionals in green; and the general population in blue.