Looking Beyond Stigma: Efficacy of S.E.A Educational Module for Attitudes towards Mental Illness among Undergraduate Students

Abstract

The research study investigated the efficacy of the S.E.A Educational Module in enhancing empathy and reducing stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness among undergraduate students. A controlled experimental design was utilized, with participants randomly assigned to either a treatment group receiving the S.E.A Educational Module or a control group. Descriptive statistics revealed minimal changes in the control group, while the treatment group exhibited significant improvements in both empathy and attitudes post-intervention. Inferential analyses confirmed these findings, highlighting significant correlations between empathy and attitudes toward mental illness, as well as significant increases in empathy scores among participants in the treatment group. Importantly, the intervention effectively reduced stigmatizing attitudes, as evidenced by significant differences in post-test scores between the treatment and control groups. While no significant gender differences were observed in empathy and attitudes, the overall results underscored the potential of targeted educational interventions to foster empathy and mitigate stigma across genders. These findings have implications for the development and implementation of educational strategies aimed at promoting mental health awareness and empathy in various settings. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term sustainability of these effects and the underlying mechanisms driving these changes, contributing to more effective and inclusive approaches to mental health education.