Hao Xin Qing Launches Public Service Short Film 'Acceptance' to Reduce Mental Health Stigma

October 10, 2020 marked the 29th World Mental Health Day. Fine Hin, in collaboration with multiple media outlets including the People's Daily Health Client, Health Times, and VCBeat, released a public service short film titled “Acceptance,” jointly calling for an end to stigma and the reduction of disease-related shame.

Click the image to watch the short film “Acceptance”

Currently, there are approximately 200 million individuals in China suffering from mental and psychological disorders; however, the number of those receiving formal treatment remains discouragingly low. Stigma hinders people from seeking medical help and prevents patients from returning to normal life.

Generally speaking, the causes of stigma can be broadly categorized into two aspects: on one hand, it is the patient’s own prejudice against their disease state, manifesting as self-stigma and a sense of shame; on the other hand, it is the discrimination and prejudice held by the general public toward individuals with mental illness.

If patients perceive significant social discrimination, it leads to increased identification with stigma, making them more prone to internalizing such stigma in the future, ultimately resulting in diminished self-esteem and self-efficacy. Meanwhile, the decline in self-esteem and self-efficacy, in turn, further exacerbates patients’ sense of stigma, creating a severe vicious cycle.

“Acceptance,” a public service short film, addresses this very issue. The film opens with an ordinary individual’s diagnosis of a mental disorder and unfolds around the daily life challenges posed by the condition. As he faces coldness from colleagues, skepticism from HR, misunderstanding from friends, and concern from his mother, he attempts to explain himself, only to have his mouth covered by a hand named “stigma.” In the ending, the patient, together with his family, friends, and doctor, calls on society to treat individuals with mental disorders equally, helping them break free from psychological constraints and reduce stigma.

Social support from society and others is crucial for patients with mental disorders, who require genuine acceptance and assistance from the community. Evidence indicates that individuals with mental and psychological disorders exhibit lower quality of life and reduced social support compared to the general population. Furthermore, a positive correlation exists between the level of social support and quality of life; specifically, greater social support is associated with higher quality of life. The adequacy of social support can significantly influence patients' quality of life.

To some extent, social support has a protective effect on patients' health, not only reducing the incidence of diseases but also promoting recovery. Therefore, society should eliminate prejudice against patients with mental and psychological disorders, and patients themselves should proactively accept various forms of relationships and support to facilitate disease recovery and improve their quality of life.

In June last year, the first epidemiological survey on mental disorders in China, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, revealed that the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder (excluding dementia) among adults in China was 16.57%, with over 100 million individuals suffering from anxiety or depression, and approximately one in five women potentially affected by depression. This comprehensive assessment of the nation’s mental health status has heightened public awareness of psychological and psychiatric issues. Individuals with mental disorders are part of our everyday lives; they may be our friends, colleagues, relatives, or even ourselves.

Therefore, on this year’s special World Mental Health Day, Fine Hin produced a short film titled “Acceptance” and released it in collaboration with multiple media outlets, including Health Times. The initiative calls on society to reduce prejudice and discrimination against individuals with mental and psychological disorders, encourages patients to let go of stigma, actively reintegrate into society, and share in a better life.

During the pandemic, the national psyche suffered a profound impact, and mental health has garnered unprecedented attention. For patients plagued by psychological and psychiatric issues, now is the critical moment to take action. By leveraging World Mental Health Day and the public service short film “Acceptance” during this historic crisis, we can help patients break free from their psychological shackles and foster a correct public attitude toward mental disorders, thereby benefiting more patients in the long run.