Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim

Introduction: Although Western society has evolved culturally in the last century, moving towards liberalisation and democratisation, many prejudiced and stigmatising behaviours are still visible, especially towards minorities. Stigma is then perceived as the marginalisation and devaluation of cert...

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Main Authors: Ana Lia Moura, Barbara Monteiro, Maria João Trigueiro, Vitor Simões Silva, Raquel Simões de Almeida, Paula Portugal, Sara Sousa, Filipa Campos, Ana Paula Soutelo, Paulo Veloso, António Marques
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia - RACS 2025-06-01
Series:RevSALUS
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Online Access:https://revsalus.com/index.php/RevSALUS/article/view/884
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author Ana Lia Moura
Barbara Monteiro
Maria João Trigueiro
Vitor Simões Silva
Raquel Simões de Almeida
Paula Portugal
Sara Sousa
Filipa Campos
Ana Paula Soutelo
Paulo Veloso
António Marques
author_facet Ana Lia Moura
Barbara Monteiro
Maria João Trigueiro
Vitor Simões Silva
Raquel Simões de Almeida
Paula Portugal
Sara Sousa
Filipa Campos
Ana Paula Soutelo
Paulo Veloso
António Marques
author_sort Ana Lia Moura
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Although Western society has evolved culturally in the last century, moving towards liberalisation and democratisation, many prejudiced and stigmatising behaviours are still visible, especially towards minorities. Stigma is then perceived as the marginalisation and devaluation of certain individuals based on characteristics considered as different. Objective: The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention programme "Bicho de 7 Cabeças", aimed at reducing mental health stigma in the young population of Póvoa de Varzim, through the promotion of mental health literacy. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out, involving a sample of 504 participants attending the 9th grade in educational establishments in Póvoa de Varzim. Participants were divided into an experimental group, which received an intervention with educational sessions, and an active control group, which received an intervention with the delivery of informative content. The evaluation was carried out through a questionnaire in digital format, composed of sociodemographic questions and the instrument - Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS). Results: There was a decrease in stigma levels in both groups (p<0.001), and the interaction value between the intervention effect and the RIBS score was equal (p<0.001). Conclusion: The effectiveness of the Mental Health Literacy promotion programme "Bicho de 7 Cabeças" in reducing the levels of stigma in young people from Póvoa de Varzim was found.
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issn 2184-4860
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Rede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia - RACS
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spelling doaj-art-4fa2ff7f555d488e90aa458e0cf9736c2025-08-20T03:29:10ZengRede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia - RACSRevSALUS2184-48602184-836X2025-06-017210.51126/revsalus.v7i2.884Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de VarzimAna Lia Moura0Barbara Monteiro1Maria João Trigueiro2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4439-7196Vitor Simões Silva3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2831-9729Raquel Simões de Almeida4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4703-1712Paula Portugal5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9689-4050Sara Sousa6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3639-8634Filipa Campos7https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6550-7660Ana Paula Soutelo8Paulo Veloso9António Marques10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8656-5023Escola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.PortoEscola Superior Saúde, CIR ESS|P.Porto Introduction: Although Western society has evolved culturally in the last century, moving towards liberalisation and democratisation, many prejudiced and stigmatising behaviours are still visible, especially towards minorities. Stigma is then perceived as the marginalisation and devaluation of certain individuals based on characteristics considered as different. Objective: The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention programme "Bicho de 7 Cabeças", aimed at reducing mental health stigma in the young population of Póvoa de Varzim, through the promotion of mental health literacy. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out, involving a sample of 504 participants attending the 9th grade in educational establishments in Póvoa de Varzim. Participants were divided into an experimental group, which received an intervention with educational sessions, and an active control group, which received an intervention with the delivery of informative content. The evaluation was carried out through a questionnaire in digital format, composed of sociodemographic questions and the instrument - Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS). Results: There was a decrease in stigma levels in both groups (p<0.001), and the interaction value between the intervention effect and the RIBS score was equal (p<0.001). Conclusion: The effectiveness of the Mental Health Literacy promotion programme "Bicho de 7 Cabeças" in reducing the levels of stigma in young people from Póvoa de Varzim was found. https://revsalus.com/index.php/RevSALUS/article/view/884Stigma; Mental Health; Youth; Mental Health Literacy Intervention
spellingShingle Ana Lia Moura
Barbara Monteiro
Maria João Trigueiro
Vitor Simões Silva
Raquel Simões de Almeida
Paula Portugal
Sara Sousa
Filipa Campos
Ana Paula Soutelo
Paulo Veloso
António Marques
Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim
RevSALUS
Stigma; Mental Health; Youth; Mental Health Literacy Intervention
title Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim
title_full Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim
title_fullStr Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim
title_short Effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in Póvoa de Varzim
title_sort effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme in reducing stigma in young people in povoa de varzim
topic Stigma; Mental Health; Youth; Mental Health Literacy Intervention
url https://revsalus.com/index.php/RevSALUS/article/view/884
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