Application : changing attitudes (How majority influence affects social change in relation to mental health stigma and discrimination

Question 1

How ?

Answer 1

Major mental health charities often aim to reduce stigma of mental illness through the use of nationwide campaigns that seek to normalise mental illness

Question 2

Whats majority influence? and how it effects minority?

Answer 2

When majority of the group try to influence others to conform to their beliefs
Therefore, majority help change minorities discriminative view = conform , internalise rather than comply

Question 3

How did majority influence affects social change in relation to mental health stigma and discrimination

Answer 3

In 2014, time to change launched an annual national campaign called ‘ time to talk ‘ to get people talking about depression, stigma.
-Encourage schools, workplace to sign up
- in 2017 over 24000 convos logged
The national attitudes of mental health survey showed impact of the campaign, since campaign 2mil ppl in UK showed improvement in attitudes towards mental illness

Question 4

How could you reduce stigma at school?

Answer 4

Majority could avoid use of stigmatising vocab, majority stop = minority may feel compelled to stop to stay ingroup

Question 5

How can we reduce mental health as a whole?

Answer 5

• if discussed in same way as physical health
  someone off at school with mental health issue -> welcome them back when they return just as though someone returns who have been away with a broken arm = feel ingroup and changes attitudes towards MH and MI