Prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among general population and their help seeking behavior in a rural area in Tamilnadu: A Cross Sectional study

In our study the prevalence of depression found to be 28% which is higher indicating that depression is a major public health concern. The risk factors include middle age, widowed status, low level of education, unemployment, low income population, those living as a nuclear family, residing in temporary house, poor social support, not perceiving depression as illness, perceived stigma , low level of professional help seeing are significantly associated with depression. After MLR analysis, low income, living in a nuclear family, residing in a temporary house, poor social support, not perceiving depression as illness, low-level of professional help-seeking are significantly associated with depression. Thus, this study helps in initiating interventional program promoting help-seeking behavior among depressed individual and anti-stigma campaign, propagating mental health awareness and treatment