Mental Health Status and Associated Risk and Protective Factors among Community Residents in Bengaluru: A Cross-sectional Study

A BSTRACT Background: Mental health is a fundamental component of individual and community well-being, yet India faces a growing crisis characterized by high levels of psychological distress and limited access to services. Community-based assessments are essential to identify the symptom-level burden and the specific risk and protective factors that influence these outcomes. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the mental health status and identify common risk and protective factors among residents of a selected community in Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 387 residents of Jigani, Bengaluru, selected via nonprobability convenience sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using standardized tools, including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Prodromal Questionnaire-16. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results: The majority of participants were female (56.3%), and 38.8% were aged 50 years and above. Substance use was reported by 24.3% of residents, with alcohol (16.5%) and cigarette use (16.0%) being the most prevalent. High symptom-level burdens were found for anxiety (51.2%), depression (46.0%), and stress (24.3%). While the majority reported minimal psychological distress (96.9%) and low psychosis risk (98.5%), 17.8% of the population fell into the moderate-risk category for overall mental health issues. Additionally, 57.1% of residents reported low protective support. Conclusion: The high prevalence of mental health symptoms alongside a significant lack of protective factors underscores the urgent need for early identification and the implementation of community-led mental health promotion and prevention strategies.