“A cross sectional study of the knowledge, attitude and perceptions towards mental illness in faith healers in Telangana”.

BACKGROUND: Faith healers are one of the most socially acceptable way to try to cure mental illness in India. It has been estimated that 80 % of rural and particularly of the lower socio-classes patients still visit faith healers not only for their personal and social problems, but also for their psychiatric problems. Thus their knowledge, attitude, and perception toward mentally illnesses is of enormous significance. The public opinion about mental illness is broadly compatible with the scientific understanding, but is it the same with the traditional healers has not been assessed in India. AIMS: To study the knowledge, attitude and perceptions towards mental illness in traditional faith healers in Telangana METHODS: Faith healers from Telangana were interviewed with a semistructured proforma for sociodemographic details and scales administered were Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire MHKQ, Attitude Scale for Mental Illness (ASMI), Public Perception of Mental Illness Questionnaire. The data was analysed using SPSS. RESULTS: Preliminary results suggest that that faith healers have poor knowledge and considerable stigma towards mental illness. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates there is a dire need for psychiatrists to engage with and create awareness of mental illness among faith healers which will indirectly help in better management and outcome in patients dealing with mental illness.