Impact of mental health training on the knowledge, attitude, and perception toward mental illness among Accredited Social Health Activist workers

ABSTRACT Background: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) is the grassroots level worker is an enviable part of the National Rural Health Mission as she plays an important role in connecting primary health to the community. For effective integration of mental health into primary health care, there is a need for nonspecialist health workers to acquire relevant knowledge and skills in mental health. Aim: To assess the impact of the mental health training on knowledge, attitude, and perception toward mental illness among ASHA workers. Methodology: Pre- and posttest experimental without control study design. Samples were collected through purposive sampling from the ASHA workers registered with the rural health training center. Tools used in the study were semistructured questionnaire for obtaining sociodemographic data, General Health Questionnaire 12, Orientation toward Mental Illness (OMI), and Community Attitude toward Mental Illness (CAMI). Results: Majority of the participants (65.71%) were at the age group of 27–35 years. There was a significant difference between baseline and postassessment at P < 0.001 level. Conclusion: The intervention helped ASHA workers not just improve their existing knowledge but also target stigma about mental illnesses determining whether they will be more receptive of the mentally ill people in their fieldwork in the future.