A Comparative Study of Common Factors Restricting Seeking Professional Psychiatric Help in Mental Illness in Rural and Urban Area

Background: Mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling or mood. Having mental illness affects how family and society changes its perception towards that individual, thus there are several factors that could hinder seeking professional help. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the common factors restricting seeking professional psychiatric help in mental illness in rural and urban area. Methodology: Sample size of 50 rural and urban areas from psychiatric institute was selected and purposive sampling method was used. Self-prepared Socio-demographic data sheet and clinical data sheet, Stigma scale and Self-prepared checklist on Faith healing was used for the data collection. It was a cross sectional study. Result: It was found that stigma related to mental illness was one of the factors restricting seeking professional help in mental illness. Families and patient from rural area were seeking less professional help when compared with their urban counterparts. Conclusion: Concluding one can easily frame that it is very import to conduct community awareness programs to increase acceptance of mental illness in the society and to reduce the factors restricting seeking professional psychiatric in both the rural and urban areas.