Reducing Stigma Through a Mental Health Art Exhibition and Its Printed Brochure

Hunan University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Mental Health Issue

Treatments: Other: printed or online education materials; Other: A mental health art exhibition

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06366373

531118232022

Details and patient eligibility

About

Mental health art exhibitions, as an intervention strategy integrating artistic expression and social contact, have the potential to positively impact the elimination of stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems. Based on a two-phase experimental design, this study aims to evaluate the effect of a real-world mental health art exhibition (Phase One) and its printed brochure (Phase Two) on stigma/discrimination and related outcomes, such as mental health literacy. The evaluation will encompass three categories of people: those with lived experience of mental disorders, family members and friends of those with lived experience, and the general public. Qualitative methods, such as in-depth interviews, will also be used for the evaluation.

Full description

Mental health art exhibitions, as an intervention strategy integrating artistic expression and social contact, have the potential to positively impact the elimination of stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems. Based on a two-phase experimental design, this study aims to evaluate the effect of a real-world mental health art exhibition (Phase One) and its printed brochure (Phase Two) on stigma/discrimination and related outcomes, such as mental health literacy. The evaluation will encompass three categories of people: those with lived experience of mental disorders, family members and friends of those with lived experience, and the general public. Qualitative methods, such as in-depth interviews, will also be used for the evaluation.

The intervention measure is the Second Mental Health Art Science Exhibition scheduled to take place in Wuhan, China from April 27 to May 14, 2024. Organized by "Qixi Charity", an NGO led by individuals with lived experience of mental disorders, as well as their family members and friends, the exhibition will feature offline artworks created by these individuals and other contributors. The exhibited artworks aim to reflect the diverse dimensions of mental health and ill-health.

At Phase One, the effect of the real-world exhibition is evaluated through a single-arm pre-post study design. The adult audience, who are individuals with lived experience of mental disorders, or family members and friends of those with lived experience, or the general public, will be recruited as the experimental group, and they will be surveyed three times: (1) a baseline survey before the interventions (T0); (2) a follow-up survey in the first month after the interventions (T1); (3) a follow-up survey in the sixth month after the interventions (T2). Additionally, the study will perform text analysis of media reports and social media discussions related to the exhibition to supplement the assessment of its social impact.

Due to the high costs and limited feasibility of widespread implementation of the real-world Mental Health Art Exhibition, the intervention was then adapted to a printed exhibition brochure. At Phase Two, the effect of the brochure intervention in reducing stigma and other related outcomes will be assessed and compared with a traditional health education brochure and a postcard as a placebo. Individuals with lived experience of mental disorders, or family members and friends of those with lived experience, or the general public, who do not visit the exhibition of Phase One, will be recurited. After that, individuals with lived experience of mental disorders and their family members or friends will be cluster-randomized to either the exhibition brochure group or the control group (the latter typically receives or seeks out traditional health education materials during healthcare visits). As for the general public will be cluster-randomized into three groups: (1) the exhibition brochure group, (2) the traditional health education brochure group, and (3) the control group. Effectiveness will be evaluated through three surveys: (1) a baseline survey before the interventions (T0); (2) a follow-up survey one month after the interventions (T1); and (3) a follow-up survey six months after the interventions (T2).

Enrollment: 360 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

General Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 and above

General Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are unable to understand the content of the questionnaire due to illness and other factors
• Mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and medical students

Additional Inclusion Criteria for Phase One:

• Individuals who attend the exhibition offline

Additional Inclusion Criteria for Phase Two:

• Individuals who did not visit the exhibition of Phase One

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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360 participants in 3 patient groups

an exhibition group

Experimental group

Description:

At Phase One, participants of this group are those who attend the offline art exhibition. At Phase Two, participants of this group are those who cannot attend the offline exhibition and will be provied with a printed brochure of the exhibition.

Treatment:

Other: A mental health art exhibition

an education group

Active Comparator group

Description:

At Phase Two, participants in this group are those who are unable to attend the offline art exhibition but will be provided with printed/online education materials

Treatment:

Other: printed or online education materials

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

At Phase Two, participants in this group are those who cannot attend the exhibition offline and will be provided with a postcard.