# Common mental health problems among patients accessing care at ayurvedic health centers in Udupi Taluk

## TL;DR

This study examines mental health issues like stress and depression among patients at Ayurvedic centers in Udupi Taluk, finding a link between lower education and higher stress levels.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into mental health prevalence and its association with educational status in a specific regional healthcare context.

## Key findings

- Participants showed some level of perceived stress and depression.
- Lower educational status was significantly associated with higher moderate stress levels (p=0.01).

## Abstract

Increased work pressure, lifestyle modifications, and deteriorated living conditions brought on by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can exacerbate mental health concerns such as anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and stress-related illnesses. Recent studies have shown that a high burden of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, stress, panic attacks, impulsivity, irrational anger, somatization disorder, sleep disorders, emotional disturbance, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts, may be experienced by COVID-19 survivors. Due to differences in their susceptibility to infection and lifestyle factors, people with different medical conditions and social roles may have various kinds and severities of mental health problems. This study aimed to provide essential insights into the prevalence, types, and linkages of various mental health issues to improve patient outcomes, guide future treatments, and advance holistic well-being.

This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of common mental health issues among patients receiving treatment at Ayurvedic health centers in Udupi Taluk. Five Ayurvedic centers were chosen randomly from 275 Ayurvedic centers registered in Udupi Taluk. A total of 423 patients aged 18 years and above were selected for this study. The Perceived Stress Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to collect data.

The study revealed the presence of some level of perceived stress and depression among the participants. The factor associated with stress was the educational status of participants (p =0.01). The comparison between different stress levels revealed that moderate stress levels were significantly higher among participants with a lower educational status.

According to a study on perceived stress levels and educational status, participants with lower educational status reported feeling more stressed than those with higher educational status.