Impact of a community-based mental health awareness program on changing attitudes of the general population toward mental health in Gujarat, India - A study of 711 respondents.

CONTEXT

In India, there is a large mental illness treatment gap, especially in rural areas. Contributors to this problem include stigma and a general lack of mental health knowledge. The State Health Department of Gujarat, India, released a video tool, in 2003, with the goal being to educate the community on topics related to mental health.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the government-developed video tool to improve attitudes toward mental health in rural Gujarat.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Eight hundred and sixty-five individuals, in 17 villages in Gujarat, agreed to attend a mental health awareness workshop that used the government-developed video tool. One workshop was held in each village. A structured questionnaire evaluating attitudes was administered to the participants before and after the workshop.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

government-developed video tool, standardized questionnaire for attitude evaluation.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

A McNemar's test was used to evaluate the difference between pre- and post-scores.

RESULTS

A total of 711 participants completed the pre- and post-questionnaire. Attitudes related to psychosis, suicidal ideation, postpartum depression, learning disability, general mental illness, and perceptions of dangerousness showed significantly favorable improvement ( <.005). Attitudes related to substance abuse worsened ( < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that a government-developed video tool can successfully improve short-term attitudes. Attitudes toward substance abuse may require a different approach than attitudes toward other types of mental illness.