Mental Health Stigma Reduction: Piloting the Links Anti-Stigma Program

Abstract

Background or Problem/Issue: In the United States, 43.6 million (18.1%) adults have some form of a mental health (MH) disorder. Forty to sixty percent of military members could benefit from treatment, but do not seek help. MH stigma serves as a barrier to help-seeking behaviors by negatively impacting treatment and increasing risks which includes: increased distress, lowered resilience, and suicide. Stigma impacts coping, self-esteem, attitudes toward treatment-seeking, intentions to seek treatment, well-being, quality of life, productivity, treatment initiation, andtreatment success. Programs that reduce stigma have the potential to improve mental health outcomes. Clinical Question or Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine whether the implementation of an anti-stigma program (LINKS) affects mental health stigma in military midlevel leadership. In military mid-level leaders, does implementation of the LINKS anti-stigma training program affect mental health stigma, measured before (T1), and immediately after (T2) the educational training? Project Design: A pilot of the LINKS evidenced-based anti-stigma program was implemented at Travis AFB. Pre- and post-implementation evaluations (Military Stigma Scale MSS) were administered to measure outcomes and determine whether the intervention was relevant and effective in the target population (military mid-level leadership).Analysis of Results: A paired t-test was used to address whether there was a change in stigma (as measured by the MSS) before and after LINKS intervention. Attending the LINKS presentation significantly reduced MH stigma. Difference in MSS scores before and after the LINKS intervention were statistically significant for both public (t=6.32; p<.0001) and self-stigma (t=4.21; p=.0002).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 30, 2018
Accession Number
AD1128183

Entities

People

  • Brent H. Burhite
  • Tekia L. Jones

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Army Personnel
  • Birds
  • Data Analysis
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Education
  • Families (Human)
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Mental Health
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Personnel
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychological Phenomena And Processes
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Students
  • Therapy
  • Training
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Mental Health of Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Risk Factors, Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.