AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG ADULT POPULATION IN MANGALURU

Background: Mental illness remains misunderstood and stigmatized in India, where misconceptions about weakness, supernatural causes, and deviance fuel discrimination and treatment barriers. Adults shape community norms, making their views pivotal for inclusive mental health responses. Aim: To assess awareness and attitudes toward mental illness among adults in Mangaluru. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 95 adults attending a tertiary care hospital’s outpatient department using simple random sampling. One-on-one interviews employed a validated, self-structured questionnaire capturing seven demographics, eight awareness items, and 18 Likertscale attitude statements. Data were analyzed in Jamovi; frequencies and percentages summarized variables, and Fisher’s exact test examined associations (p<0.05). Results: Most participants (58.9%) showed poor awareness, 40.0% had moderate awareness, and 1.05% high awareness. Despite limited literacy, 61.1% expressed a favorable attitude toward people with mental illness and 38.9% were neutral; none reported an unfavorable attitude. Attitudes did not differ by awareness level (Fisher’s exact p=0.706), suggesting positive social dispositions can coexist with low knowledge, possibly reflecting a nascent cultural shift. Conclusion: Adults in Mangaluru exhibit generally positive attitudes alongside low awareness of mental illness. The lack of a direct awareness–attitude association underscores the complexity of public perceptions. Strengthening community-based mental health education, anti-stigma initiatives, and inclusive policies—tailored to demographic contexts could improve literacy while preserving empathetic norms. Future studies with larger, community-based samples and validated standardized scales should explore determinants of favorable attitudes and test interventions that convert goodwill into help-seeking, support, and advocacy. Such efforts may strengthen care pathways and reduce persistent treatment gaps in India.