Exploring Student’s Attitudes towards Mental Health Problems in Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction

We investigated participants' attitudes towards mental health problems (ATMHP), considering demographic variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, religion, study levels, study fields, types of academic institutions, and familiarity with mental health problems. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of ATMHP with various demographic variables.

Methods

Using opportunity sampling, we sampled 348 participants from private, community and Government Colleges in Chitwan district. We employed Attitudes towards Mental Health Problems (ATMHP) scale, a reliable and valid tool. We employed descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the relationship between ATMHP and various demographic factors, as well as the differences in ATMHP across different groups.   

Results

We observed an overall unfavorable attitude towards mental health problems among the respondents. No significant differences were found between/among gender, ethnicity, religion, study levels, study fields, types of academic institutions, and familiarity with mental health problems in the level of ATMHP.

Conclusion

We observed generally unfavorable attitudes towards mental health problems (ATMHP) across the study, with no significant differences between comparison groups.