Understanding mental health trends in an urban slum of North India: An exploratory study

ABSTRACT Background: Urban slum dwellers are vulnerable to mental symptoms due to various psychosocial factors such as overcrowding, poverty, and limited access to healthcare, predisposing them to mental health issues. Despite this, research exploring the prevalence of mental health issues in these settings remains scarce. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of mental health issues and the awareness related to mental illness and substance use among adults in an urban slum community in North India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted, randomly selecting 450 adult residents (aged ≥18 years, living ≥5 years in the area) from an urban slum. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, including Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, a self-structured questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, and practice about substance use and mental disorders, and a socio-demographic profile data sheet. Results: The majority of participants reported minimal depressive (80.4%) and anxiety (89.4%) symptoms, with a very low prevalence of moderate depression (0.4%) and mild anxiety (10.2%). Although male participants showed higher mean scores for depression and anxiety than females, these differences were not statistically significant. Participants generally demonstrated a superficial understanding of mental health disorders and limited awareness of substance use. Conclusion: The low prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms suggests significant community resilience and the potential protective role of strong social support, or underreporting due to pervasive stigma. Observed gender differences, despite being statistically non-significant, highlight the potential need for gender-sensitive mental health strategies. Future studies should further explore the underlying social dynamics and improve service access.