Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Mental disorders are among the most burdensome of all classes of disease because of their high prevalence, chronicity, early age of onset and resulting serious impairment and disability. Failure to adjust with transitional changes during adolescence can lead to mental health problems. Methodology: The study was conducted in the rural and urban field practice for a period of one year among rural and urban adolescents of 13-19 years of age. Sample size of 1632 was divided into 859 rural and 773 urban adolescents depending upon 1.9:1 ratio of rural to urban adolescent population as per census 2011. Result: 100% of rural population have no symptom of trembling, scaring suddenly with no reason, feeling fearful, have to avoid certain things, as they frighten them and feeling tense or keyed up, in past 7 days while 11.5% (89), 1.2% (9), 3.9% (30), 3.4%(26), 15% (117) of urban adolescents respectively experience these symptoms extremely in past 7 days. Majority of the female experience all the anxiety symptoms more than the male counterpart. Conclusion: There has been a rise in the prevalence of mental illnesses among adolescents. In the present study, the presence of anxiety as well as depression was found to be highly significant with respect to area and gender. Key words: Symptom checklist - 80, Anxiety, Depression, Adolescents, Rural & Urban area.