Mental illness is any define disease or condition affecting the brain that influences the way a person
thinks, feels, behaves and relates to others, and to his surroundings.. Mental disorders are widely recognized as a
major contributor to the global burden of disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge and
attitude about mental illness among general public. This article is based on selective research on mental health with an
aim to assess knowledge, attitude and beliefs (KAB) of general public and to stimulate greater attention to the importance
of building a functioning mental health system which could meet the rising demand for mental health services in the
urban community of Yaoundé. This is a cross-sectional survey conducted from October 2014 to March 2015. A selfadministered
questionnaire exploring KAB within the community was formulated. Questions were based on basic
demographic information, opinions about potential stigmas, myths, and knowledge of mental health. Of 944 subjects
surveyed, 67.7% have already heard or known someone who has suffered or is suffering from mental illness. Among
them, 51.0% are males whereas 49.0% are females. A majority of the respondents was aged between 20 – 29 years
(60.7%). 30.4% believed that mental illness can be treated. Recognition of common mental disorders in the studied
population was poor (32.6%). Knowledge of mental illness among the general public was quite poor and suggests the
need for strong emphasis on public education to increase mental health literacy among general public to increase
awareness and positive attitude of people towards mental illness.