Mental health is an integral and essential part of public health and mental illness is a critical public health challenge that is under-recognized as a public burden. A descriptive study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge regarding mental illness among care givers of mentally ill patients in Mangalore. The objective of the study was to assess the level of knowledge regarding mental illness among care givers of mentally ill patients. Using purposive sampling technique 100 samples were selected and a structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess their level of knowledge on mental illness. The result showed that 65% of care givers had moderately adequate knowledge, 29% had inadequate knowledge and only 6% had adequate level of knowledge on mental illness. There was a significant association between knowledge score and baseline variables of gender, religion educational status, occupation, and monthly income, place of residence and previous knowledge of care givers on mental illness.
