Survey of mental health needs of Hamedanian people

For all individuals, mental, physical and social health is vital strands of life that are closely interwoven and deeply interdependent. And mental health is crucial to the overall well-being of individuals, societies and countries. The aim of this study is to identify the mental health needs of Hamedanian people. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The participants consist of 1300 persons who were selected by stratified sampling. A 30- item questionnaire was used to gather data from the samples. It consisted of three parts: A-demographic factors, B-questions related to mental health service delivery and C- questions related to mental health needs. Results showed that the Hamedan city people believed that mental health services are inadequate, they did not access services near their home (76%) and mass media educational programs about services was poor(34%). The expressed needs of people were: mental health education (72%), established mental health centers in schools (52. 8%) and factories (50. 7%) and expanding the comprehensive mental health centers in the city(57. 8%). Expanding the assurance services (85. 6%), modifying wrong beliefs and ideas about mental illness (42. 6%), and improving the mental health in society. Community based mental health services should to provide comprehensive and local cares and treatments. Services should be comprehensive in that they provide a range of facilities to meet the mental health needs of the population at large as well as of special groups, such as children, adolescents, women and elderly people.