A community-based assessment of mental health literacy of parents of adolescents in Udupi taluk

Adolescence is a critical period of life marked by significant physical, cognitive, and emotional changes, where they face varied pressures related to their academics, peers, future decisions, etc. Hence mental health problems like anxiety and stress are reported to be more evident in these age groups. Parents play a pivotal role in the mental health of their children. They are often the first to observe changes in their child’s behavior and can facilitate or hinder access to mental health services. However, a lack of mental health literacy can hinder parents’ ability to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, access appropriate care, and provide support to their children. There are less studies conducted to explore the mental health literacy of parents of adolescents and its associated factor. Thus, this study aims to assess the parental perspectives, beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge associated with mental health.