A Comprehensive Exploration of Mental Illness Stigma on Campuses Using the Model of Stigma Communication
摘要
This chapter addresses the pervasive issue of mental illness stigma that negatively impacts millions of students on college campuses. It examines the Model of Stigma Communication (MSC) as a framework for understanding and combatting stigmatizing messages. By exploring MSC’s application in health communication research, the chapter proposes strategies for destigmatizing communication, including mental health education campaigns, prosocial messaging in classrooms, and fostering open discourse about mental illness. The responsibility for implementing these strategies falls on faculty and staff, who may require support from university administrators. Suggestions include forming committees, providing resources, incentivizing participation, and ensuring equitable access to mental health services. However, there’s a lack of recent case studies on college mental health communication campaigns, and existing research predominantly focuses on undergraduate students, overlooking the experiences of graduate students and faculty. The chapter calls for research to fill these gaps, emphasizing the need to examine the effects of discourse and mental illness disclosure on stigma across various social networks. Additionally, scholars are encouraged to develop instruments for measuring these effects and explore strategies for reducing self-stigma and increasing help-seeking behaviors among college populations.