Reducing mental illness stigma: What types of images are most effective?

Public stigma against mental illness is a barrier to treatment and recovery. Research into the design of anti-stigma messages has focused heavily on text; there is limited information on what types of images are most persuasive in eliciting anti-stigma outcomes. This is important to study because the type of image used to depict an illness can influence how the illness is perceived, which in turn can affect how people with the illness are treated. Through an online experiment with 162 American adults, this study investigated whether mental illness narratives about depression illustrated with photographs are more effective than those illustrated with cartoons at reducing stigma. It was found that the illustrated narratives, whether with photo or cartoon, produced more anti-stigma effects than the text-only narrative (control). Further, the photographic narrative was more effective than the cartoon narrative in eliciting closeness to the story protagonist and willingness to donate to mental health services. The study’s findings indicate that images should be used in anti-stigma messages on depression; further, regarding image type, photographs should be considered over cartoons as they are more effective in eliciting certain anti-stigma outcomes.Implications for PracticeThis study suggests that images have strong anti-stigma effects and that photographs are sometimes more persuasive than cartoons. These findings can inform best-practice guidelines for designing anti-stigma messages, created and disseminated by organisations such as the United States’ National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America. Images in these messages should be selected carefully as they can influence how people with mental illness are perceived and treated. This study suggests that images have strong anti-stigma effects and that photographs are sometimes more persuasive than cartoons. These findings can inform best-practice guidelines for designing anti-stigma messages, created and disseminated by organisations such as the United States’ National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America. Images in these messages should be selected carefully as they can influence how people with mental illness are perceived and treated.公众对精神疾病（mental illness）的污名化是阻碍治疗与康复的一大障碍。当前针对反污名化信息（anti-stigma messages）设计的研究多聚焦于文本维度，目前关于何种类型的图像在引发反污名化效果方面最具说服力的相关资料仍较为匮乏。此类研究具备重要意义，因为用于呈现疾病的图像类型会影响大众对该疾病的认知，进而影响对患者的态度与处置方式。 本研究面向162名美国成年人开展线上实验，旨在探讨以照片配图呈现的抑郁症精神疾病叙事，在减轻污名化方面是否比以漫画配图的同类叙事更为有效。研究结果显示，无论采用照片还是漫画配图的叙事文本，其产生的反污名化效果均优于纯文本叙事（对照组）。此外，相较于漫画配图叙事，照片配图叙事在提升受众对故事主角的亲近感以及向精神卫生服务机构捐赠的意愿方面效果更优。 本研究结果表明，针对抑郁症的反污名化信息应搭配图像使用；进一步而言，在图像类型的选择上，相较于漫画，应优先采用照片，因其在引发特定反污名化效果方面表现更佳。 实践启示 本研究表明，图像具备显著的反污名化效果，且照片有时比漫画更具说服力。上述研究结果可为反污名化信息的设计提供最佳实践指南，相关信息可由美国全国精神疾病联盟（National Alliance on Mental Illness）、美国心理健康联盟（Mental Health America）等机构制作并推广。此类信息中的图像需谨慎选择，因其会影响大众对精神疾病患者的认知与态度。本研究表明，图像具备显著的反污名化效果，且照片有时比漫画更具说服力。上述研究结果可为反污名化信息的设计提供最佳实践指南，相关信息可由美国全国精神疾病联盟（National Alliance on Mental Illness）、美国心理健康联盟（Mental Health America）等机构制作并推广。此类信息中的图像需谨慎选择，因其会影响大众对精神疾病患者的认知与态度。