Reducing depression-related stigma and increasing treatment seeking among adolescents: randomized controlled trial of a brief video intervention

Abstract

Background: Confronting stigma early in life could enhance receptivity to seeking treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of social contact interventions to reduce stigma toward depression and to enhance treatment-seeking intentions among adolescents. We hypothesized that the brief video-based interventions would be more effective than their matched controls. Method: Using crowdsourcing, we recruited and randomly assigned 1,183 participants aged 14–18 to one of four video-based stimuli on a 4:4:1:1 ratio: (a) adolescent girl with depression; (b) adolescent boy with depression; (c) same girl, without depression; or (d) same boy, without depression. In each of the ~100-second-long videos, two simulated patients (SPs) depicted empowered presenters sharing their personal stories. In the depression conditions, SPs described how social support from family, friends, and professionals helped them overcome their symptoms and recover. Results: We found a significant effect for the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) between active and control groups (F = 27.4, p