title: Communications to children about mental illness and their role in stigma development: an integrative review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited literature on the stigma of mental illness has examined the socio-cultural processes involved in the development of stigma around mental health in children, which emerges in mid-childhood (7-11 years). Greater understanding might inform preventative interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review aims to integrate disparate theoretical and empirical research to provide an overview of social communications to children aged 7--11 years about mental illness and their role in the development of stigmatised views. Four key socio-cultural contexts (the media, school, peers, parents) of relevance to children's development will be considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic literature searches were conducted within electronic databases and abstracts were scanned to identify relevant studies. Fifteen papers were selected for the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The review found few studies have directly examined communications about mental illness to children. Available evidence suggests messages across children's socio-cultural contexts are characterised by silence and stigma, which may shape children's developing views. Specific theoretical frameworks are lacking; possible mechanisms of transmission are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review suggests overcoming stigma will require efforts targeting young children, explicitly tackling mental illness, and spanning multiple social spheres: further research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: a Lewisham Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK .
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: b Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University , Kent , UK .
authors.forename: Margie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Callanan
authors.affiliation: c School of Psychology, University of Sussex , Brighton , UK , and.|d Early Intervention Service, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust , Hove , UK.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002666:Psychology, Child; D013240:Stereotyping
keywords: child development; mental illness; social communication; socialisation; stigma