Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Active, not recruiting
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT04881084 |
| Other study ID # |
254043 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Active, not recruiting |
| Phase |
N/A
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
March 1, 2021 |
| Est. completion date |
March 30, 2023 |
Study information
| Verified date |
April 2021 |
| Source |
McGill University |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
Stories of suffering and struggle are shared continuously through digital formats such as
internet videos, news stories, social marketing, and fundraising campaigns. Digital stories
are often created and shared to generate awareness about a problem, impart knowledge on
contemporary issues, or promote compassion. The practice of sharing critical life events and
insights provided by these experiences are valuable for tellers and the listeners alike for
catharsis, healing, reconciliation, and connectiveness. Portrayals of mental suffering are a
matter of cultural and social interest as new media products become available to the public.
Studies published since the 1990s overwhelmingly conclude that formal media depictions are
biased, promoting the stereotype that people who suffer emotionally are mentally ill,
dangerous, violent, or insane. Various agencies, organizations, and corporations are actively
working to provide alternative stories/narratives to mainstream media by means of video
testimonials in social marketing and fundraising campaigns and, ultimately, by taking
advantage of the Internet. The impact of this work is under-researched. However, preliminary
evaluations of social marketing campaigns report mixed results and raise questions about
their effectiveness. As well, the first-person narrative prepared digitally and shared online
is also providing alternative narratives to mainstream media stories. People are increasingly
using digital videos to share their stories, viewing this as an opportunity to understand
their emotions and thoughts, come to terms with disgrace around sensitive, personal issues
and marginalization while providing hope and encouragement to others. This proposed study
focuses on the process of creating digital narratives/stories, especially stories of mental
and emotional suffering, and their impact in terms of inciting empathy, compassion, and good
citizenship among viewers.
Description:
Digital stories -- first person, self-made 2-3-minute videos -- aim to generate awareness
about problems, impart knowledge, or promote compassion. Sharing critical life events and
related insights are invaluable for tellers and listeners alike, supporting catharsis,
healing, reconciliation, and connectiveness. Digital stories are created and shared among
organizations or citizens ( "ordinary" people without a background in filmmaking) to promote
awareness of particular problems. They impact peoples' knowledge of contemporary issues,
shaping attitudes by stimulating empathy, compassion, and active citizenship.
The proposed study explores digital stories/narratives, particularly those focused on mental
health recovery, and how stories elicit empathy and compassion by addressing three main
questions: (1) How is mental and emotional suffering depicted in video testimonies presented
by social marketing/fundraising campaigns, versus the stories of ordinary people told through
digital videos? (2) What impact does digital storytelling have for the creators, as ordinary
people willing to revisit difficult life moments and transform them into digital videos? (3)
What is the impact of video depictions on viewers in terms of empathy and compassion?
This mixed-method study has 3 phases: In Phase 1 (Preparation), a search will be conducted to
identify activities related to Canadian social marketing and fundraising campaigns. Digital
storytelling workshops will be held simultaneously, and in-depth interviews conducted before
and after each workshop. Social service and community organizations located in Montreal,
Canada, will be contacted to promote the digital storytelling workshops, to be implemented in
the community and on university campuses. In Phase 2, a pilot randomized controlled trial
(RCT) will be undertaken and more in-depth interviews conducted. Phase 3 will consist of
knowledge dissemination activities.
The knowledge acquired through this study on individual and societal responses to stories of
human suffering will have a practical impact on future social marketing campaigns promoted by
government agencies, fundraising campaigns launched by nonprofit and for-profit
organizations, and the public. Results will consolidate previous knowledge while providing
new insights into what prompts citizens to help others.
