P06. Reframing Mental Health as an Effective Way to Decrease Stigma and Increase Help-Seeking in College Student-Athletes

Overview

This study examined how three different prompts discussing mental health affected student-athletes' attitudes toward help-seeking. Athletes that read prompts framing mental health as mental fitness or a personal testimony about an athlete seeking help displayed significantly better attitudes towards help-seeking than those who read a traditional mental health prompt. The results suggest that framing mental health differently can decrease stigma and increase help-seeking in student-athletes who are experiencing mental health problems.

Poster Category: Research

Presenter(s)

Presenter(s): Andrew Downs, PhD, and Caitlin Kirk (University of Portland)