Reactions to Solidarity Versus Normalcy Messages for Antistigma Campaigns.

This study considers two of many messages that are used in antistigma campaigns: normalcy, that mental illness is like most kinds of illness-"You are just like me," and solidarity, that one's mental illness is accepted-"I stand with you." This study examined how research participants rated message merit: understandable, effective, and compelling. We particularly examined how views on message merit varied by whether participants reported previous mental health experience. Three hundred seventy-three participants rated the merit of the two messages provided in random order. They also reported previous experience with mental health services. Overall, participants viewed solidarity messages with greater merit than normalcy. Participants with self-reported mental illness viewed the solidarity message even better than participants without mental illness; this pattern varied by specific mental health experience. Findings suggest a greater understanding of stigma reduction methods from those who are more likely to have experienced stigma.