A large proportion of people live in rural areas of the world especially in the low- to middle-income countries. Urban and rural areas differ in epidemiological rates of mental morbidity. Rural populations have unique environmental profile and lifestyle choices about occupation, social norms, beliefs about health, and expressions of illness and help-seeking behaviour.

The services for mental disorders of rural population remain poor even in high-income countries. The treatment gap for mental illness is about 80% in low-income countries and perhaps even worse for rural people. The reasons of treatment gap are complex. Low investment in mental health leads to limited mental health resources available to the country’s health service. In low- to middle-income countries, these are concentrated in the cities, depriving rural communities of any specialist mental health services. Stigma, discrimination, poor literacy, and specific cultural belief toward mental illness restrict rural people to accept and access appropriate help.