Reducing mental health stigma among nursing students through an educational intervention.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patient-centred care must consider service consumers' needs and improve their health and well-being as well as their satisfaction and the quality of their healthcare assistance. However, individuals experiencing mental illness often struggle with barriers and misunderstandings by health care professionals. Nursing Faculties are uniquely positioned to reduce stigmatising attitudes via new educational interventions that could align nursing curricula and individuals with mental illness needs. However, there are few studies about the stigma toward mental illness among nursing students in Spain. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to analyse the effect of a 9-month educational intervention on the level of stigma in nursing students. DESIGN: a one-group pre-postintervention design with no control group was conducted. METHODS: A total of 194 nursing students completed the EVEPEM scale before and after the intervention. The intervention comprised 55 hours of campus sessions and 150 h practicum in mental health settings. RESULTS: A destigmatising tendency was captured by a large main effect and a statistically significant stigma reduction. CONCLUSIONS: The educational 9-month intervention was effective in reducing students' stigma by providing theoretical education, personal contact with mental health service consumers, and critical reflection activities.