Perception of Mental Health Services Among Rural Dwellers in Imo State

Mental health service utilisation in rural Nigeria is shaped by cultural perceptions, limited facility access, and inadequate community-level health education. This study examined the perception of formal mental health services among rural dwellers in Imo State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with 260 adults recruited from rural communities in Ihitte-Uboma, Okigwe, and Oru West local government areas. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated perception scales was used, and data were analysed using frequency tables and chi-square tests. Results showed that a majority of respondents held negative perceptions of formal mental health facilities, associating mental illness with spiritual problems and viewing psychiatric hospitals as places of no recovery. Only 18 percent had ever recommended formal mental health services to a family member with a mental condition. Preference for traditional healers and prayer houses was prevalent across all age groups. Respondents who had received community-based mental health education reported more positive perceptions of formal services. The study recommended community mental health education programmes that engage traditional and religious leaders as strategic partners in de-stigmatising mental illness. Keywords: mental health services, perception, rural dwellers, Imo State, stigma