Investigating the effects of disclosure of lived experience of depression by mental health professionals: a web-based randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Suicide prevention research found that disclosing personal experience with suicide (“lived experience”) by mental health professionals can elicit beneficial effects. Unfortunately, there is limited knowledge in the context of other crisis-related mental health issues such as depression. To test whether disclosure of lived experience of depression by mental health professionals elicits beneficial effects. Using a web-based randomized controlled trial, <i>N</i> = 365 adults were randomly assigned to read a news interview with a psychiatrist who disclosed that they 1) suffered from depression themselves (“direct lived experience”), 2) that a close relative of them suffered from depression (“indirect lived experience”), or 3) no disclosure of any forms of lived experiences (control group). The primary outcome was the reader's intention to provide help to others. Direct and indirect personal experiences both elicited a significant increase in the intention to help others. No significant difference between the two intervention groups was found. Disclosure of lived experience elicited beneficial effects. Even those without direct lived experience can elicit beneficial effects on others when openly talking about lived experience from relatives.