Investigating changes in mental illness stigma and discrimination after the Time to Change programme in England
2024

Changes in Mental Illness Stigma After Time to Change Programme

Sample size: 1638 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Amy Ronaldson, Claire Henderson

Primary Institution: King's College London, UK

Hypothesis

To investigate the extent to which positive changes in stigma were sustained by 2023, two years after the programme's end in 2021.

Conclusion

The study found that while some positive changes in attitudes towards mental illness persisted, stigma-related knowledge and willingness to interact with individuals with mental illness declined since 2019.

Supporting Evidence

  • CAMI scores improved between 2008 and 2023, but decreased since 2019.
  • MAKS scores declined by 7.8% since 2019.
  • Willingness to interact with people with mental illness decreased by 10.2% since 2019.
  • Comparison with British Social Attitudes Survey data indicated gradual increases in willingness to interact with people with depression and schizophrenia.

Takeaway

The study looked at how people's feelings about mental illness changed after a campaign to reduce stigma, finding that some improvements lasted, but others got worse.

Methodology

Regression analyses were used to evaluate trends in stigma-related knowledge, attitudes, and desire for social distance based on survey data.

Potential Biases

The use of a quota sampling frame may introduce bias, and the change in data collection method could affect responses.

Limitations

The study's findings may be influenced by changes in data collection methods and potential unmeasured confounders.

Participant Demographics

Participants included adults aged 16 and older from various demographics in England, with a stable distribution of gender and regional representation.

Statistical Information

P-Value

P < 0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI 0.16–0.31

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1192/bjo.2024.801

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