Depressive and anxiety symptoms among adults in a rural village of Uttarakhand, India: a community-based survey

Abstract

Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs), particularly depression and anxiety, are increasingly recognized as major public health concerns worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries such as India, mental health problems in rural areas often remain under-recognized and undertreated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and examine their socio-demographic correlates among adults in a rural community of Uttarakhand. Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted among 90 adults residing in a rural village of Uttarakhand. Data were collected through structured interviews using validated screening instruments—the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Socio-demographic and health-related variables were also recorded. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25 employing descriptive statistics and univariate analysis. Results: The majority of participants (82.2%) reported minimal depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, 17.8% reported mild to severe depressive and/or anxiety symptoms, indicating the presence of elevated psychological distress within a subgroup of the population. In univariate analysis, a relatively higher prevalence of CMDs was observed among older adults, individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those reporting chronic health conditions or a family history of mental illness. Conclusion: Although most participants reported minimal symptoms, a notable proportion experienced clinically relevant depressive and anxiety symptoms, suggesting unmet mental health needs in this rural setting. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening community-based mental health screening and support services in rural Uttarakhand and underscore the need for further research to inform context-specific mental health policy and service delivery.