The influence of an anti-stigma intervention on adolescents' attitudes to schizophrenia: a mixed methodology approach.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at exploring adolescents' attitudes to schizophrenia and the impact of an educational intervention on improving them, by employing a mixed methodology. METHOD: A total of 1081 secondary-school students were randomly allocated to a control and intervention condition. Stigma endorsement was assessed by a free association card and a questionnaire, before and 2 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The intervention yielded substantial changes in students' beliefs, attitudes and social distance levels as well as in their associations with the term 'severe mental illness'. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions can contribute substantially to preventing consolidation of unfavourable attitudes towards mental illness.