Self-stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours one holds regarding their own mental illness. Self-stigma can prevent individuals from seeking treatment, which in college students, can decrease quality of life and academic outcomes. (Hundert et al., 2021).
Honest, Open and Proud (HOP) is a peer-led group for people living with mental illness that aims to empower individuals regarding their mental illness by teaching them how and when to discuss their experiences with others. Initial studies of HOP found mixed efficacy results, but an adaptation, Honest, Open and Proud – College (HOP-C), yielded more success at decreasing self-stigma when offered with a three-week postintervention “booster” group.
A two-month follow up after the HOP-C booster program showed that participants retained an overall decreased level of self-stigma and practiced skills learned from the original intervention, including effective self-disclosure and treatment seeking. Hundert et al. believe that the key to the success of the HOP-C intervention is the booster program, although exact mechanisms of success remain unknown. Therefore, future research should investigate an adaption of HOP-C for non-college populations that include the added booster program to determine the basis of the intervention’s efficacy.
Citation:
Hundert, C. G., Hareli, M., & Conley, C. S. (2021). Honest, open, proud—college: Follow-up effects of a peer-led group for reducing the stigma of mental illness. Stigma and Health. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1037/sah0000326.supp
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