To synthesize the current evidence on the prevalence of mental health stigma among nursing students and summarize the interventions developed to reduce such stigma.
Approach:
Literature Review: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2018 and June 2024.
Key Findings:
The prevalence of mental health stigma among nursing students is moderate to high.
Stigma manifests in various forms, including negative attitudes toward patients, internalized shame, and public stigma directed at nursing students themselves.
Interventions such as mental health training, empathy enhancement programs, and clinical internships demonstrate varying degrees of effectiveness in reducing stigma, with multi-component interventions showing the most promise.
Interpretation:
Mental health stigma among nursing students is a persistent and multifaceted issue that requires targeted strategies to address.
Limitations:
The review did not formally register the protocol in a public registry.
The search was limited to studies published in English.
Conclusion:
Enhancing mental health education, increasing clinical exposure, and implementing comprehensive intervention programs are essential steps to reduce stigma.
