iarjimphIARJIMPHIARJIMPH2709-331X10.47310/iarjimph.2025.v06i01.010Stress in the Hills: Public Awareness and Attitudes Toward Mental Health and Counseling Services in Himachal PradeshBackground: Mental health disorders pose a significant burden in India, particularly in rural regions like Himachal Pradesh, where stigma, low awareness and limited access to services exacerbate the treatment gap. This study aimed to evaluate public awareness of mental health issues, attitudes toward counseling services and barriers to accessing care among adults in Himachal Pradesh, focusing on rural communities. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted from January to February 2025, targeting adults aged 18–60 years in Himachal Pradesh. A bilingual (Hindi/English) questionnaire, hosted on Google Forms, assessed socio-demographic factors, mental health knowledge, attitudes toward counseling and barriers. Using convenience sampling, 450 participants completed the survey. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics v27.0, with knowledge scores categorized as Very Good (≥80%), Good (60–79%), Fair (40–59%) and Poor (<40%). Results: Participants, primarily aged 18–35 years (74.0%) and female (56.0%), showed moderate awareness: 76.0% identified stressful life events as a depression cause, 80.0% recognized treatability of disorders and 86.0% acknowledged stigma as a barrier. Gaps existed in understanding check-up frequency (60.0%), asymptomatic issues (64.0%) and family history risks (66.0%). Knowledge levels were Very Good (28.0%), Good (46.0%), Fair (20.0%) and Poor (6.0%). Limited healthcare access (32.0%) highlighted rural disparities. Conclusion: While awareness of mental health is improving, stigma and knowledge gaps hinder care-seeking in Himachal Pradesh. Targeted education, stigma reduction campaigns and expanded rural services are crucial to closing the treatment gap.