Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with mental illness worldwide, particularly among younger generations, who show worrying levels for these age groups. Although this is a reality, there are still stereotypes and prejudices rooted in society that have made it difficult to seek help, often due to fear of social judgment and the shame associated with mental illness. It is therefore important to intervene in the community to reduce misinformation and promote awareness of mental health.
In an increasingly digital society, marked by growing consumption of audiovisual content, it is important to understand how these can be used as awareness-raising tools. Although there are studies on the effectiveness of some audiovisual formats, the impact of cinema and, in particular, documentaries, remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the impact of three documentaries, with different narrative styles and focused on different mental illnesses, on a student community. The study assesses the level of stigma before the intervention, after viewing the documentaries, and one month later, seeking to understand not only the immediate impact but also the durability of its effects.