Awareness of Mental Illness in Selected Rural Areas of a district in Assam

Background: Around 450 million people currently suffer from mental health problems, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional.1 Aim : The aim of the study was to assess the awareness of mental illness in the rural community. Method : It was a descriptive study carried out among 200 adults residing in the rural areas of a district in Assam which were selected through convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the Socio Demographic data sheet and a modified version of the Knowledge of Mental Illness Questionnaire. Results : The results showed that the people have a fair amount of knowledge about mental illness. Further proper methods should be devised to increase the knowledge regarding mental illness.