The development and evaluation of a workshop focused on destigmatizing the use of mental health services among Asian-Americans |
| Author: |
Wong,-Florence-Chow
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| Author Background: |
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| Date |
3/2000
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| Type |
Dissertation
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| Journal Title: |
Dissertation-Abstracts-International:-Section-B:-The-Sciences-and-Engineering
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| Volume/Pages |
Vol 60(8-B): 4260
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| Publisher |
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| Subject Matter |
Asian American, Research, Mental Health
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| Population |
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| Pedagogies |
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| Abstract |
This study evaluated the efficacy of a workshop created to destigmatize the use of mental health services among Asian Americans. Forty-five participants of Asian background participated in Phase 1 (posttest) and 56% (25) responded to Phase 2 (follow-up). In Phase 1, 21 participants received the workshop (experimental group) and 24 viewed a film (control group). In Phase 2, 16 participants from the experimental group and 9 from the control group responded via mail to 4-month follow-up questionnaires. Comparisons were made between treatment groups in separate analyses of Phases 1 and 2 on help-seeking attitude, tolerance for a person diagnosed with mental illness, and actual use of mental health services. Dependent variables included the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPH) (Fischer & Turner, 1970), the Willingness to Discriminate Questionnaire (Primavera, 1993), and utilization questionnaires. History of having used mental health services or knowing someone who has was controlled for in the analyses of the ATSPPH. Level of psychological distress was controlled for in analyses of the utilization questionnaires. Alpha was set at.05. The experimental group showed greater confidence in mental health practitioners compared to the control group in Phases 1 and 2. The experimental group showed more positive overall help-seeking attitude in Phase 2 compared to the control group. In Phase 1, the experimental group was more likely to be tolerant and less stigmatizing of a person diagnosed with mental illness. The effect continued into Phase 2, but was less strong. There were no significant differences between treatment groups on either measure of utilization behavior. In general, participants preferred to talk with friends or relatives when psychologically distressed regardless of treatment group. The workshop was an effective intervention. It increased confidence in mental health practitioners. It reduced stigma against and increased tolerance for the mentally ill. Over time, workshop participants had more positive attitudes about seeking psychological help than control participants. To improve upon this workshop's format, future interventions should consider lengthier, more frequent, and more intensive designs that include role-playing exercises and interaction with a person diagnosed with a mental illness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2000 APA, all rights reserved)
KP: efficacy of workshop for destigmatizing use of mental health services, Asian Americans
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