Honest, Open, Proud - College for Post-Secondary Students With Mental Health Challenges

Self-stigma and Strategic Disclosure Amongst Canadian Postsecondary Students

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of an online format of the group-based intervention "Honest Open Proud-College" among Canadian post-secondary students.

Mental health issues have been highlighted as a growing concern within the post-secondary student population. Studies show that one significant concern for post-secondary students pertains to disclosing their mental challenges to others. Disclosure decisions are especially relevant for postsecondary students in the context of academic and social support. Students with mental health challenges who do not receive helpful accommodations may experience greater stress related to academics. Students also note that, in navigating their social sphere, they often need to consider what aspects of their mental health challenges to share in what situations.

As such, students often need to make decisions about whether to conceal or disclose their mental health challenges, both of which have their own pros and cons. Disclosure is a complex decision that requires consideration of personal and contextual factors. Honest, Open, Proud-College (HOP-C) is a peer-led, group-based intervention, that supports post-secondary students in the process of making decisions to disclose their mental health conditions. This study will evaluate the impacts of HOP-C administered through a videoconferencing platform on personal, social, and disclosure related outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 17 to 29 years old
• Enrolment in an university or college in Canada
• Self-identify as experiencing mental health challenges
• Moderate level of self-reported self-stigma (score 4 or higher on the screening item "Do you feel ashamed about dealing with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenges?", rated from 1, not at all, to 7, very much)

Exclusion Criteria:

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