Changes in volunteers’ attitudes towards mental illness after remote volunteering support

Abstract The social contact hypothesis posits that direct contact between different groups can reduce prejudice under specific conditions, and has been foundational in promoting social cohesion and reducing discrimination. Given that people with mental illness often face stigma and discrimination, it is important to evaluate how community volunteering programmes can impact attitudes towards people with mental illness. This study therefore explores how remote interactions between community volunteers and individuals with mental illness impact the volunteers’ perceptions of mental health. Through a qualitative secondary analysis, we examined data from a 12-week remote volunteering support intervention. Interviews with 17 patients and 17 volunteers were conducted in the United Kingdom, where participants were recruited. The analysis revealed three key themes: volunteers’ preconceptions prior to the intervention, volunteers’ challenges when interacting with patients, and volunteers’ improved attitudes towards patients with mental illness post-intervention. Notably, 35% of volunteers reduced their desire to socially distance from individuals with mental illness, while 53% reported no change, and 12% reported an increase. These remote interactions fostered greater understanding and have potential to reduced stigma surrounding mental illness.