# Reducing Serious Mental Illness and Suicide Stigma Among Medical Students.

> **NIH NIH R34** · PONCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $750,468

## Abstract

Project Summary
People with serious mental illness (PSMI; i.e. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) die, on average, 25 years
earlier than the general population. Suicide is a key factor for this disparity as it is the leading cause of unnatural
deaths among this population. Latinxs are a particularly vulnerable group accounting for one of the highest rates
of SMI and suicide ideation and attempt (SIA) among ethnic minorities in the United States. Health professionals
play a key role in identifying SMI/SIA among patients; unfortunately, SMI/SIA stigma hinders this process. This
is vital, as research has documented that half of PSMI who are suicide victims contact their physicians prior to
their deaths. Furthermore, Latinxs seek SMI/SIA related services in general medical settings, rather than through
mental health care. Thus, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Research Prioritization Task
Force calls for effective SMI stigma-reduction interventions targeting health professionals in order to prevent SIA
through early identification and increasing referrals for at-risk individuals. In light of this, the proposed R34 project
aims to: Aim 1 - Develop the content of an intervention to reduce SMI/SIA stigma among medical students.
Aim 2 - Determine the acceptability and feasibility of implementing the intervention among medical students by
examining recruitment/screening procedures, participation/refusal/retention rates, and participant satisfaction.
Aim 3 - Pilot test, via a small randomized controlled trial (RCT), the preliminary efficacy of the intervention in
reducing SMI/SIA stigma among medical students by: increasing knowledge of SMI/SIA, reducing negative
attitudes towards SMI/SIA, and increasing behavioral skills for providing healthcare to PSMI. The team will
develop the intervention content based on their previous studies, recommendations from the Community
Advisory Board and input from medical students via iterative focus groups (Aim 1). Afterwards, 126 medical
students recruited in Puerto Rico and Florida will be randomly assigned to either the SMI/SIA stigma reduction
intervention (n=63) or a time and attention matched controlled condition (n=63) to determine its
acceptability/feasibility and test its preliminary efficacy (Aims 2 & 3). The team will examine the intervention’s
efficacy in reducing SMI/SIA stigma via direct observation of: 1) interactions with Standardized Patient
Simulations (n=126), and; 2) a subsample (n=40) of interactions with real-world patients. Following, the team will
then examine students’ and patients’ views and attitudes regarding these real-world clinical interactions via
qualitative interviews. If data from this study points to an efficacious intervention, the team will implement a fully
powered Hybrid-I type RCT design examining the intervention’s effectiveness and implementation strategies. If
successful, medical schools will have a powerful cross-cultural tool to train students on stigma-f...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10040944
- **Project number:** 1R34MH120179-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** PONCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Eliut Rivera-Segarra
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $750,468
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-04 → 2024-09-03

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10040944

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10040944, Reducing Serious Mental Illness and Suicide Stigma Among Medical Students. (1R34MH120179-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10040944. Licensed CC0.

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