“People are shortening the lifetime of mentally ill persons”; Community’s perception towards mental illness and help-seeking behavior in Bench Sheko, Sheka, Kaffa and West Omo zones, South West Ethiopia, 2021

The local community does not take a supportive stance toward those who are mentally ill, and there is no formalized system in place for them to receive care and treatment. Few people who are willing to give them food, clothing, and shelter were proven to have the power to influence their fate. Therefore, it is crucial to provide mental health services to those in need and develop effective awareness-raising initiatives, especially by working with local authorities, religious leaders, and other influential individuals.