Mental Health Stigma Prevention: Pilot Testing a Novel, Language Arts Curriculum-Based Approach for Youth.
Researchers have emphasized the importance of integrating mental health education with academic curriculum. The focus of the current studies was Mental Health Matters (MHM), a mental health curriculum that is integrated with English language arts. It is taught by trained community member volunteers and aims to increase knowledge and decrease stigma toward individuals with mental health disorders.



In Study 1, 142 sixth graders participated in MHM and completed pre- and postprogram measures of mental health knowledge, stigma, and program acceptability. Teachers also completed ratings of acceptability. Study 2 (N = 120 seventh graders) compared participants who had participated in MHM the previous year with those who had not using the same measures.



Sixth grade students and teachers rated the program as highly acceptable. Participants significantly increased their knowledge and decreased their levels of stigma. Seventh graders who had participated in MHM had significantly more mental health knowledge than peers who had not, but there were no differences in stigma.



The model appears to be acceptable to students and teachers. Future research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of integrating mental health education with other academic curriculum such as language arts or science.
Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, Gevirtz School, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490. hweisman@education.ucsb.edu.
Hannah L
0000-0001-6691-3628
HL
Weisman
Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, Gevirtz School, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490. mkiakeating@education.ucsb.edu.
Maryam
M
Kia-Keating
Department of Education, Gevirtz School, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490. annchristine.lippincott@gmail.com.
Ann
A
Lippincott
Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490. zach.christian.taylor@gmail.com.
Zachary
Z
Taylor
Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, 4111 Pictor Lane, Psychology Bldg 99, Ste. 320, Orlando, FL 32816. jimmyzheng@knights.ucf.edu.|University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490. jimmyzheng@knights.ucf.edu.
Jimmy
J
Zheng
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007803:Language Arts; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057545:Social Stigma
child and adolescent health; curriculum; mental health; school health instruction; stigma