Psychosis research reaches educational centers

The Patient Engagement in Research Area of ​​the Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD) has launched an educational initiative aimed at 3rd and 4th year ESO students to address mental health, contribute to the reduction of prejudices and stigmas, and promote the recognition of risk factors associated with psychotic disorders, also promoting early detection and prevention in the face of any warning signs.

Design and production of a social media campaign aimed at reducing the stigma associated with psychotic disorders and highlighting the importance of research

Through this initiative, more than 120 third- and fourth-year secondary school students have designed social media campaigns comprised of various elements (videos, infographics, images, etc.) to raise awareness of the research on psychotic disorders being conducted by the child and adolescent mental health research group at IRSJD. This project was part of an application activity based on the learning acquired during the implementation of the Learning Situation "Comprender la psicosis para convivir, ayudar y actuar."

The campaigns were submitted as part of a competition organized by the Patient Participation in Research Area, which received numerous entries from different schools.

The winning students of the competition presented their campaigns in an online session full of knowledge and reflection.

The winners of the competition, Escola Pia Granollers and Escola Vedruna Palamós, had the opportunity to share their projects in an online session held on June 3rd. During the online activity, the students presented their campaign materials and content, along with the strategies they implemented during development and the obstacles they faced. They also offered a final reflection on the learning process and the knowledge they acquired regarding psychotic disorders and the research in this field conducted at the IRSJD (Research Institute of San Juan de Dios).

The award was based on the high quality and originality of the presented material, the rigor of the scientific language used, and the solid knowledge demonstrated regarding IRSJD research on psychotic disorders. The campaign's ability to evoke a relevant emotional response was also a decisive factor in the selection of these two schools' proposals.

Winning campaigns

• My Name Is Martina and I Have Schizophrenia - Escola Pia Granollers

A short film that tells the story of Martina, a teenager with schizophrenia, focusing on her relationship with her psychologist and exploring the emotions and everyday difficulties associated with the illness. The video addresses stigma from the protagonist's intimate perspective and her own experiences.

• Let's End Social Stigma - Escola Pia Granollers

An awareness campaign consisting of a video and an informational poster that combats prejudices about psychotic disorders by demystifying them and raising awareness of risk factors and warning signs, as well as the importance of research in this field.

• Behind the Scenes: Real Psychosis - Escola Vedruna Palamós

An Instagram initiative that uses the "Expectation vs. Reality" format to dismantle prejudices inherited from the big screen. The campaign uses a clean and direct aesthetic to contrast classic "suspense" or "horror" images with real testimonies and data about mental health.

With this educational initiative, the IRSJD reaffirms its commitment to scientific outreach and raising awareness among new generations about the crucial role of mental health research.