Several minutes of animation helped change attitudes toward people with disorders related to the use of psychoactive substances. This was shown by a study involving 13,500 people. The result matters because fear of judgment often becomes a barrier to seeking help.
In the cartoon, a fish goes through the path from first substance use to addiction, its consequences, and reaching out for support. One group watched the video with sound, another — without it. Immediately after viewing, stigma levels fell by 9% and 6%, respectively. Two weeks later, the effect remained, although it became weaker.
Interestingly, the story worked even without words. Perhaps sometimes what a person needs is not another set of statistics, but a short story that allows them to see a living person behind a diagnosis.
You can watch the cartoon by following the source link below ↓
