Am J Psychiatry 1990; 147:324-329
Copyright © 1990 by American Psychiatric Association
Evaluation of a Mental Illness Awareness Week program in public schools
J Battaglia, JH Coverdale and CP Bushong
Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
The authors evaluated the impact of a Mental Illness Awareness Week program
on the attitudes of adolescents attending public school toward seeking help
for mental health problems and toward psychiatrists. Most students involved
in the program liked it and indicated that they were interested in learning
more about mental health topics. Students in the program showed more
favorable attitudes toward seeking help and toward psychiatrists than a
comparison group of students who did not participate in the program. The
authors discuss the evidence for enduring effects of the program. The
results support continued development of Mental Illness Awareness Week
programs for adolescents in the public schools.
