WISE INTERVENTIONS

Trained student health educators delivered 15-minute workshops in undergraduate dorms focused on (1) social norms: the high prevalence of mental health issues on campus, low rates of health seeking, and how misperceiving mental health norms (underestimating prevalence of mental health issues and help-seeking, overestimating social stigma) can harm mental health and reduce help-seeking; (2) general mental health information: common mental health myths, several disorders, and common concerns among students who sought therapy at the campus counseling center; or (3) an active control focused on the recognition and management of stress as a basis of mental health. The social-norm treatment led to more accurate perceptions of mental health norms and reduced perceived social stigma immediately, as compared to both other conditions. Both treatments, as compared to the control, improved attitudes toward help seeking two months later. There were no effects on help-seeking behavior in this period.