title: Changes in beliefs and attitudes toward people with depression and schizophrenia - results of a public campaign in Germany.
abstract: We examined the impact of a mental health awareness campaign on public attitudes. The campaign was embedded in the project psychenet - Hamburg Network for Mental Health. Beliefs and attitudes were examined before and after specific awareness measures in Hamburg (intervention region) and Munich (control region). Analyses were based on representative surveys (2011: N=2014; 2014: N=2006). Vignettes with symptoms suggestive of depression respectively schizophrenia were presented, followed by questions on social distance, beliefs and emotional reactions. Analyses of variance tested variations between regions over time and differences between those aware of the campaign and those not aware. In 2014, 7.3% (n=74) of the Hamburg respondents were aware of the psychenet campaign. Regarding the total sample, there were minor changes in attitudes. Differentiated according to campaign awareness among Hamburg respondents, those who were aware showed less desire for social distance toward a person with depression. Moreover, respondents aware of the campaign stated less often that a person with schizophrenia is in need of help. The campaign had small impact on attitudes. A substantial change in ingrained attitudes toward persons with mental health problems is difficult to achieve with interventions targeting the general public.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: a.makowski@uke.de.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Makowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: emnich@uke.de.
authors.forename: Eva E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mnich
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: j.ludwig@uke.de.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: a.daubmann@uke.de.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daubmann
authors.affiliation: Work Group Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: bock@uke.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.affiliation: Work Group Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: lambert@uke.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: m.haerter@uke.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Härter
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: dirmaier@uke.de.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dirmaier
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: l.tlach@uke.de.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tlach
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: s.liebherz@uke.de.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liebherz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: o.knesebeck@uke.de.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von dem Knesebeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003866:Depressive Disorder; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012559:Schizophrenia; D057545:Social Stigma
keywords: Evaluation; Impact; Mental health awareness campaign; Mental illness; Psychenet; Stigma