Can a brief biologically-based psychoeducational intervention reduce stigma and increase help-seeking intentions for depression in young people? A randomised controlled trial
Abstract
There is disagreement in the literature as to whether biological attribution increases or decreases stigma. This study investigated the effect of an online biological intervention on stigma and help-seeking intentions for depression among adolescents. A three-arm, pre-post test, double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) was used to compare the effects of a biological and a psychosocial intervention delivered online. Participants comprised secondary school students (N = 327) aged 16-19 years. Outcome measures included anticipated self-stigma for depression (primary), personal stigma, help-seeking intention for depression, and biological and psychosocial attribution. Neither the biological nor the psychosocial educational intervention significantly reduced anticipated self-stigma or personal stigma for depression relative to the control. However, a small increase in help-seeking intention for depression relative to the control was found for the biological educational condition. The study was undertaken over a single session and it is unknown whether the intervention effect on help-seeking intentions was sustained or would translate into help-seeking behaviour. A brief online biological education intervention did not alter stigma, but did promote a small increase in help-seeking intentions for depression among adolescents. This type of intervention may be a practical means for facilitating help-seeking among adolescents with current or future depression treatment needs.
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Five interventions explicitly targeted help-seeking for depression in school-based settings.
“Five interventions explicitly targeted help-seeking for depression in school-based settings their focus being to educate the school population about adolescent depression and thereby encourage help-seeking [94–98].”
An online educational intervention that provided information on biological causes of depression increased help-seeking intention.
“an online educational intervention that provided information on biological causes of depression 33 and persuasive text messages 34 increased help-seeking intention”
From Technology-Based Interventions to Improve Help-Seeking for Mental Health Concerns: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [33]
In the current review, reduced stigma or improved literacy are not essential for improving help-seeking intention.
“However, in the current review, it was observed that reduced stigma 33 or improved literacy31,49 are not essential for improving help-seeking intention.”
From Technology-Based Interventions to Improve Help-Seeking for Mental Health Concerns: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Howard, K. A., Griffiths, K. M., McKetin, R., & Ma, J.
- Affiliations
- Mindfully Well, Canberra, Australia
- Australian National University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Ma, Jennifer
- Venue
- Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health
- Published
- 2018-05-15
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 27-39
- ISSN
- 1728-0583 (ISSN-L)
- 1728-0591
- OpenAlex
- W2803996239
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 3.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- depression stigma, help-seeking intentions, adolescents, psychosocial interventions, online psychoeducation, personal stigma, brief intervention, high school students
- MeSH terms
- Help-Seeking Behavior, Adolescent, Adult, Australia, Depression, Double-Blind Method, Female, Health Education, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Personality, Self Concept, Intention, Young Adult, Social Stigma, Sociological Factors
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