Mental illness stigma in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Mental illness stigma is universally prevalent and a significant barrier to achieving global mental health goals. Mental illness stigma in Bangladesh has gained little attention despite its widespread impact on seeking mental health care in rural and urban areas. This study aimed to investigate mental illness stigma and the associated factors in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh. Methods The study areas were divided into several clusters from which 325 participants (≥18 years) were recruited with systematic random sampling. The Bangla version of the Days’ Mental Illness Stigma Scale was used to collect data. Independent-samples t -test, ANOVA, and multiple regression were performed. Results Results suggest that gender, age, geographical location, socioeconomic status, and occupation significantly differed across…