It has been proposed that the most effective way to combat mental illness stigma is to focus on power groups who have a direct impact on the... Show moreIt has been proposed that the most effective way to combat mental illness stigma is to focus on power groups who have a direct impact on the lives of persons with serious mental illness. With the increase of violence and need for mental health services on college campuses, campus police officers are seen as an important power group for persons with serious mental illness. This study assessed the effects of online contact versus online education anti-stigma programs on campus police officers attitudes toward persons with serious mental illness. The study also considered moderators of contact specifically level of familiarity, state empathy, and trait empathy. It was found that the online program was not effective in changing attitudes. The research also suggested that the attitudes of the campus police officers were generally non-stigmatizing other than the endorsement of fear/danger. Both state and trait empathy were found to be moderators helping behaviors and social distance. Level of familiarity was not found to be a moderator of social distance. The findings suggest that future research and stigma work with campus police officers should focus on in vivo behaviorally driven interventions such as crisis intervention training with a focus on danger/fear. Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2012 Show less
