Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Related to Mental Illness among Selected Population in Order to Develop a Self Instructional Module

Being happy and productive is one of the usual desires of each individual. To achieve this, a person, amongst other things needs to be accepted in society and be a part of main stream. This is not possible if others have negative attitude towards him, one of the major groups against which people have negative attitude is that of mentally ill. Mental illness has always been associated with ignorance, superstitions. Mentally ill person goes through a lot of torture and problems due to lack of development in the field of psychiatry. With the introduction of Understanding the human behavior there has been a change in attitude towards mental illness. In India, the similar scenario of ignorance, lack of knowledge, misconception about mental illness exists even today. Treatment of mental illness by various traditional healers, faith healers, like, foretellers, temple priest, witchcraft and astrologers, are still practiced in many parts of India. This statement focuses the importance of the study, it has the knowledge, attitude and practice of mental illness. Because like other disease conditions mental illness also exhibits certain sign and symptoms which all the people should know and be aware of the forthcoming dangers which may be very hazardous and may bring to darkness to ones life. So there is a need to prevent them. Therefore above statement focuses the importance of the study of knowledge, attitude and practices which not only identify people but modify into desired direction. Investigator pointed out that awareness and communitys orientation about mental illness should be enhanced. Therefore, it is felt that a study to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of community regarding mental illness be made and prevention of mental illness before it begins.