Bovenkamer: Evaluating an Arts-Based Intervention to Reduce Mental Health Stigma in Youth

Mental health issues among young people have increased in recent years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this rise, many still find it difficult to talk about their struggles due to negative portrayals of mental health problems, for example on social media. Stigma remains a major barrier to help-seeking behavior in youth, with negative consequences for well-being. Interventions aimed at reducing stigma are therefore increasingly important. This study investigates the arts-based intervention, Bovenkamer, among youth aged 17 to 24 (M = 19.4, SD = 2.04) at a vocational education school (MBO) in the Netherlands. It aims to explore participants’ changes in stigma and experiences with the artistic components of the intervention. It was hypothesized that participants would report lower stigma after the intervention compared to a control group and describe positive experiences with the artistic activities. The program consisted of three lessons incorporating music and visual art...Show moreMental health issues among young people have increased in recent years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this rise, many still find it difficult to talk about their struggles due to negative portrayals of mental health problems, for example on social media. Stigma remains a major barrier to help-seeking behavior in youth, with negative consequences for well-being. Interventions aimed at reducing stigma are therefore increasingly important. This study investigates the arts-based intervention, Bovenkamer, among youth aged 17 to 24 (M = 19.4, SD = 2.04) at a vocational education school (MBO) in the Netherlands. It aims to explore participants’ changes in stigma and experiences with the artistic components of the intervention. It was hypothesized that participants would report lower stigma after the intervention compared to a control group and describe positive experiences with the artistic activities. The program consisted of three lessons incorporating music and visual art, with interactive activities and group reflections. A mixed-methods design collected quantitative data through pre- and post-questionnaires from an intervention (n=10) and control group (n=10), and qualitative data through two focus groups with a total of nine participants. Stigma was measured using the Dutch Knowledge and Attitudes to Mental Health Scales (KAMHS-NL). Results showed no statistically significant differences in stigma reduction between groups (F(1, 18) = 0.001, p = .973) and no change over time (F(1, 18) = 0.42, p = .527). Limitations, such as the small sample size and difficulties with comprehending the questionnaires, may have contributed to the lack of measurable stigma effects with the Bovenkamer intervention. In contrast, focus group analysis revealed positive findings in four main themes: Increasing Mental Health Awareness and Knowledge, Changing Attitudes and Behavior, Opening Conversations on Mental Health, and Experiencing Creativity and Emotions. Participants reported that the art activities helped them express themselves, normalize mental health issues, and engage in conversations about mental health stigma. These findings suggest that schools may benefit from using arts-based interventions to create spaces where young people feel more comfortable discussing mental health, although larger studies are needed to better determine their effect on reducing stigma.Show less

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Bovenkamer: Evaluating an Arts-Based Intervention to Reduce Mental Health Stigma in Youth