We conducted a randomized control trial to study the impact of two information messages aimed at reducing the stigma associated with mental illness on the willingness to seek mental health care among adults in Nepal. The first intervention shares information about the prevalence of mental health issues and the efficacy of treatment. The second intervention shares information about the mental health struggles of a Nepali celebrity and how he benefited from treatment. We find three results. First, compared to a no‐information control group, both interventions increase participants’ stated willingness to seek mental health treatment. This effect is driven by participants with high personal and anticipated stigma, less severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, and who hold strong beliefs about conformity to masculinity. Second, the impact on participants’ stated willingness to seek mental health treatment mirrors their willingness to pay for counseling. Third, participants are, on average, more likely to report willingness to seek help when the enumerator is female.

中文翻译：

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消除心理健康污名化可以增加寻求帮助的意愿吗？来自尼泊尔的实验证据


我们进行了一项随机对照试验，研究两条旨在减少与精神疾病相关的耻辱的信息对尼泊尔成年人寻求精神卫生保健意愿的影响。第一项干预措施分享有关心理健康问题的患病率和治疗效果的信息。第二项干预措施分享了一位尼泊尔名人的心理健康斗争以及他如何从治疗中受益的信息。我们找到三个结果。首先，与无信息对照组相比，这两种干预措施都增加了参与者寻求心理健康治疗的意愿。这种效应是由具有较高个人和预期耻辱感、抑郁和焦虑症状较轻以及坚信男性气质的参与者所驱动的。其次，对参与者寻求心理健康治疗的意愿的影响反映了他们支付咨询费用的意愿。第三，平均而言，当普查员是女性时，参与者更有可能表示愿意寻求帮助。