Determining the Efficacy of a Newly Developed Human-Entered Online Education and Contact Based Stigma Reduction Training, Stigma Reduction Training-Counselor, in Counselors-in-Training

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the efficacy of an online education and contact-based stigma reduction training, Stigma Reduction Training – Counselor, developed specifically for training counselors-in-training using a human centered design approach. The mental health profession recognizes the extensive nature of stigma associated with mental illness, how it impedes access to care, and potential remedies for such stigma. However, researchers have yet to determine an intervention that is efficacious in reducing mental health provider stigma. This experimental study utilized a pre/post-test intervention/control group design to evaluate the efficacy of the human-centered online education and contact-based stigma reduction training, Stigma Reduction Training-Counselor, in reducing mental health provider stigma in counselors-in-training (CITs). The Mental Health Provider Stigma Inventory (MHPSI) was used to evaluate levels of stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs held by participants toward those with serious mental illness (SMI). The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was used to explore how social desirability might impact assessing for counselor stigma, a sensitive topic. Data analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between social desirability and the initial MHPSI scores. Statistical significance was not found for the proposed hypotheses. However, participants reported educational change on an individual basis and indicated the contact portion of the intervention was meaningful.