The effect of web-based videos on help seeking intentions and stigma

Abstract

Intentions to seek help are strongly influenced by stigma (Rickwood, Deane, Wilson, & Ciarrochi, 2005). If self-stigma or public-stigma are high, help seeking intentions become inhibited (Rickwood et al., 2005). A Health Service Executive (HSE; 2007) report found 62% of Irish adults experience stigma. Current research calls for the development of interventions to increase help seeking intentions (McGorry, Tanti, Stokes, Hickie, Carnell, Littlefield, & Moran, 2007) and decrease stigma (Jorm, 2000).The current study investigated the effect of web-based videos on psychology students’ attitudes toward help seeking and stigma.

Participants (n=61) completed the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Help (Vogel, Wade & Ascheman, 2009), the Self Stigma Of Seeking Help (Vogel, Wade & Haake, 2006) and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help- Short Form (Fischer & Farina, 1995). The scales were administered pre-intervention, post-intervention and at two week follow-up. Results indicated a significant effect of time on each scales scores, indicating that the web-based videos did have an effect on participant’s levels of public stigma, self-stigma and attitudes towards seeking help.