Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India

Background: Mental-health-related stigma prevents youth from seeking help for mental health problems. Limited studies in low- and middle-income countries assess the effect of arts-based education in reducing such stigma among youth, thereby leaving a gap in evidence-based, age- and culturally-approp...

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Main Authors: Shivani Mathur Gaiha, Antonio Gasparrini, Mirja Koschorke, Usha Raman, Mark Petticrew, Tatiana Taylor Salisbury
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:SSM - Mental Health
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560324000446
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author Shivani Mathur Gaiha
Antonio Gasparrini
Mirja Koschorke
Usha Raman
Mark Petticrew
Tatiana Taylor Salisbury
author_facet Shivani Mathur Gaiha
Antonio Gasparrini
Mirja Koschorke
Usha Raman
Mark Petticrew
Tatiana Taylor Salisbury
author_sort Shivani Mathur Gaiha
collection DOAJ
description Background: Mental-health-related stigma prevents youth from seeking help for mental health problems. Limited studies in low- and middle-income countries assess the effect of arts-based education in reducing such stigma among youth, thereby leaving a gap in evidence-based, age- and culturally-appropriate interventions. Objective: To evaluate the impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS, an arts-based educational program on reducing mental-health-related stigma among youth in India. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods, pre-post control group study among college-going adolescents in Hyderabad, India. At baseline and post-intervention (after six weeks), we examined differences in intended behavior towards people with mental health problems. Results: Our study involved 432 participants across three study groups: participants creating art on the theme of mental-health-related stigma over six weeks (n = 123), a student audience viewing 2-h arts show by participants (n = 244), and a control group (n = 65). Between baseline and post-test, participants creating art showed significantly lower stigma towards people with mental health problems compared to members of the control group (coefficient = 1.55, 95%CI 0.06–3.04, p = 0.041). Participants found the intervention useful and enjoyable (>95%; n = 773 across six weeks). Participants identified that collaborative creation of art made the subject of mental health interesting and relatable. Conclusions: Participating in an arts-based educational program was associated with significantly lower mental-health-related stigma among youth compared to a control group in the short term. High acceptability of the program demonstrates the utility of arts-based education to address mental-health-related stigma. With community partners and artists as facilitators, our program may support mental health specialists in mental health promotion.
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spelling doaj-art-a07c2f9daa624d0cb0dbb81d05cb941c2024-12-13T11:05:08ZengElsevierSSM - Mental Health2666-56032024-12-016100339Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, IndiaShivani Mathur Gaiha0Antonio Gasparrini1Mirja Koschorke2Usha Raman3Mark Petticrew4Tatiana Taylor Salisbury5Indian Institute of Public Health-Hyderabad, India; Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK; Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Corresponding author. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Member of the Faculty of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 1 Autumn St, 504, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UKCentre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UKSarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad, IndiaDepartment of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UKCentre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UKBackground: Mental-health-related stigma prevents youth from seeking help for mental health problems. Limited studies in low- and middle-income countries assess the effect of arts-based education in reducing such stigma among youth, thereby leaving a gap in evidence-based, age- and culturally-appropriate interventions. Objective: To evaluate the impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS, an arts-based educational program on reducing mental-health-related stigma among youth in India. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods, pre-post control group study among college-going adolescents in Hyderabad, India. At baseline and post-intervention (after six weeks), we examined differences in intended behavior towards people with mental health problems. Results: Our study involved 432 participants across three study groups: participants creating art on the theme of mental-health-related stigma over six weeks (n = 123), a student audience viewing 2-h arts show by participants (n = 244), and a control group (n = 65). Between baseline and post-test, participants creating art showed significantly lower stigma towards people with mental health problems compared to members of the control group (coefficient = 1.55, 95%CI 0.06–3.04, p = 0.041). Participants found the intervention useful and enjoyable (>95%; n = 773 across six weeks). Participants identified that collaborative creation of art made the subject of mental health interesting and relatable. Conclusions: Participating in an arts-based educational program was associated with significantly lower mental-health-related stigma among youth compared to a control group in the short term. High acceptability of the program demonstrates the utility of arts-based education to address mental-health-related stigma. With community partners and artists as facilitators, our program may support mental health specialists in mental health promotion.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560324000446
spellingShingle Shivani Mathur Gaiha
Antonio Gasparrini
Mirja Koschorke
Usha Raman
Mark Petticrew
Tatiana Taylor Salisbury
Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India
SSM - Mental Health
title Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India
title_full Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India
title_fullStr Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India
title_full_unstemmed Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India
title_short Impact, feasibility, and acceptability of CREATORS: An arts-based pilot intervention to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth in Hyderabad, India
title_sort impact feasibility and acceptability of creators an arts based pilot intervention to reduce mental health related stigma among youth in hyderabad india
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560324000446
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