Using Visual Metaphors in Health Messages: A Strategy to Increase Effectiveness for Mental Illness Communication

Abstract

Depression is highly prevalent among college students. Although treatment is often available on university campuses, many stigma-based barriers prevent students from seeking help. Communication strategies, such as the use of metaphors, are needed to reduce barriers. Specially, the use of visual metaphors, as a strategic message design tactic, may be an effective communication strategy to increase message appeal and engagement. Using a 2-phase approach, this study first identified common metaphors students use to conceptualize mental illness. Messages incorporating conceptual and visual metaphors were then designed and tested to determine their potential in reducing stigma. Participants (n = 256) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions in a between-subjects experiment: messages with visual and textual metaphors, messages with straightforward visuals and textual metaphors, text-based metaphor messages, or a control group. Overall, metaphorical messages are appealing, the use of visual metaphors leads to greater message engagement, and messages based on conceptual metaphors have the potential to reduce stigma. The use of conceptual and visual metaphors in campaign design is an effective strategy to communicate about a complex health topic, such as mental illness, and should be considered for use in campaigns to reduce barriers for help-seeking behavior.

Funding

Research reported in this article was supported by the Health Communication Scholars Program made possible by the Office of the Provost and Learning Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. The content is solely our own responsibility and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Communication Scholars Program.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this article was supported by the Health Communication Scholars Program made possible by the Office of the Provost and Learning Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. The content is solely our own responsibility and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Communication Scholars Program.