Interactive websites could reduce depression stigma

The study, undertaken by Dr Kathy Griffiths of the Australian National University, Canberra, analysed a sample of 525 people who had scored high on depressive symptom questionnaires randomly allocated to a depression information website, called BluePages, a cognitive-behavioural skills training site called MoodGYM, or a control.

After using MoodGYM, a site that consists of cognitive therapy, walkthroughs for combating negative thinking and coping with relationship break-up, users’ attitudes to depression became less stigmatised. However, perceived stigma, namely how people believe others view the illness, increased after use of both websites.

In order to measure stigma, users were asked over a series of telephone interviews to agree or disagree with statements such as: “People with depression are dangerous”, or "Most people would not employ someone they knew had been depressed.".

The researchers said that more research was needed, and that perhaps there would be room to develop a website which would have a greater effect on lowering personal stigma. "The challenge is to develop programmes that exert larger effects on stigma. This would involve systematically testing an identifying the content and contexts which are most effective in reducing stigma."

BluePages featured biographies of celebrities who had suffered from depression and aimed to persuade users to seek help. However, the study found that just featuring this information did little to soften attitudes to mental illness among those who might suffer from it.