TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Lacey, Lindsey
AU  - Mishra, Nirajana
AU  - Mukherjee, Priya
AU  - Prakash, Nikhilesh
AU  - Prakash, Nishith
AU  - Quinn, Diane
AU  - Sabarwal, Shwetlena
AU  - Saraswat, Deepak
        TI  - Can Destigmatizing Mental Health Increase Willingness to Seek Help? Experimental Evidence from Nepal
        PY  - 2024/Jul/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 17166
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp17166
        AB  - 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 healthcare 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.
        KW  - seeking help
KW  - prejudice
KW  - stigma
KW  - mental health
KW  - celebrity
KW  - Nepal
        ER  -