Journal of Psychiatric Nursing

This research was conducted using a descriptive study design for the assessment of attitude and expressed behaviour towards mental illness among adult population of a selected rural community of South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal by Ayesha Sk, Srijani Trivedi, Srabani Mondal, Yasmina Khatun, Susmita Kar, Rajlakshmi Das and Samapti Mondal with the objectives to assess attitude and expressed behaviour towards mental illness among adult population, to figure out the corelation between attitude and expressed behaviour towards mental illness among adult population and to analyze the correlation between expressed behaviour of adult population towards mental illness and chosen demographic characteristics. A quantitative research approach and a descriptive survey research design were adopted for the study. 50 adult persons of all genders of Bishalakshmitala, Burul, South 24 Parganas were selected as sample by purposive sampling technique. A structured interview protocol was used to collect demographic characteristics. Standardized tool the Community Attitude to Mental Illness (CAMI – 12) Scale to assess attitude and Standardized tool Reported & Intended Behaviour (RIB) Scale to assess expressed behaviour towards mental illness among adult population were used. The data were collected from 26.03.26 to 03.04.26. The obtained data were analyzed and interpreted through the application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods. It was found that 26% adult population were both in the age groups 18 – 29 years and 40 – 49 years and 60 - 65 age group accounted for a tenth of them. 86% of them were female and 14% of them were male. 40% of them had completed secondary level of education and 10% had completed graduation and above. 72% of them had no mentally ill family member and 28% had mentally ill person in their family. On the basis of attitude score the majority of adult population, i.e. 64% had moderately favourable attitude, 24% had most favourable attitude, and 13.91% had a less favourable attitude towards mental illness. On the basis of intended behaviour 88% had average behaviour, 12% had good behaviour, and no one had poor behaviour towards mental illness. This study has practical implications for nursing care, education, management, and research.