Interventions to reduce public stigma of mental illness and suicide – are they effective?

The aim of this systematic literature review of reviews is to increase knowledge about interventions to reduce public stigma related to mental health problems, mental illness and suicide, and to explore the effectiveness of the interventions. Results indicate that anti-stigma interventions that include social contact, education and information, as well as multi-component interventions, using several strategies simultaneously seem to be effective measures to reduce stigma related to mental illness and suicide. Almost all studies report short-term effects, whereas the long term effects are unclear. Furthermore, we found no knowledge of whether stigma of less severe forms of mental health problems are affected by these interventions. Results are based on seven literature reviews where the effects are explored narratively.

The report is aimed at officials and stakeholders at regional and local level who are involved in the planning of public health interventions to promote mental health and to prevent mental illness and suicide.