Thesis (MCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mental health knowledge is defined as “the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention”. Although mental illness is a common condition in the community, only a few people with these disorders generally undergo treatment with about only 70% of individuals seeking help. Contributing to the community’s lack of knowledge, it has also been found that the public cannot recognise different types of psychological distress and mental illness, resulting in people not seeking mental health care. From the evidence perused in the literature, the researcher observed that communities with sound mental health knowledge and a positive attitude towards mental illness are motivated to seek professional help, whilst communities with a lack of mental health knowledge and a negative attitude towards mental illness are less motivated to seek professional help. The researcher therefore aimed at determining the knowledge and attitudes of the Kinondoni community members towards mental illness. In determining the knowledge and attitudes of the Kinondoni community members towards mental illness, the research design was a descriptive, crosssectional survey, with a quantitative approach. An adjusted, existing questionnaire, with, self-compiled, closed ended questions, was used to collect data. Reliability was supported by a pilot study to test the questionnaire beforehand. Face and content validity focused on readability, clarity and development of the questionnaire. The ethical principles were used to make sure the rights of participants were protected. The ethical approval was obtained from Stellenbosch University institutional review board number IRB0005239 to conduct research. Furthermore the study permit was given by the Kinondoni Municipal Medical Officer of health with reference number TD/K/3/VOL/207. The collected data was analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results were presented in tables of means, in which each variable had its own table of analysis of variance. The results were as follows; knowledge about mental illness was very poor as most of the respondents in Kinondoni community n=182 (61%) responded that mentally ill people cannot perform regular jobs, had no friends, and were dangerous. Respondents n= 239 (79.6%) had negative attitudes towards people with mental illness as they stated that they have no right to find a job, have friends and be integrated into society. The results conclude that the Kinondoni community members have less knowledge and negative attitude towards mental illness. The researcher summarises the completed process of this research study and recommend policy makers to formulate guidelines to strengthen nursing practice and education, to create awareness to the community on mental illness and also recommend for further study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geestesgesondheidskennis word gedefinieer as die kennis van geestesongesteldhede wat bydra tot die herkenning, hantering en voorkoming van geestesongesteldhede. Alhoewel geestesongesteldhede ‘n algemene toestand is in die gemeenskap, is daar slegs ‘n klein aantal geestesongestelde individue wat behandeling ondergaan, met omtrent 70% van die genoemde individue wat hulp soek. Bydraend tot die gebrek van die gemeenskap se kennis het dit ook aan die lig gekom dat die publiek ook nie die verskeie sielkundige stressors en geestesongesteldhede erken nie, wat veroorsaak dat mense nie geestesgesondheidsorg benader nie. Uit die literatuurstudie het die navorser geobserveer dat die gemeenskappe met geestesgesondheidskennis en ‘n positiewe houding gemotiveerd is om hulp te soek en gemeenskappe met ‘n gebrek aan geestesgesondheidskennis minder gemotiveerd is om professionele hulp te soek. Die navorsing het hierbenewens ten doel gehad om die kennis en houding van die Kinondoni gemeenskapslede aangaande geestesongesteldhede te bepaal. Om die kennis en houding van die Kinondoni gemeenskap te bepaal is ‘n kwantitatiewe deursnitopname gedoen. ‘n Bestaande vraelys met geslote vrae is aangepas om data in te samel. Betroubaarheid is deur die loodstudie ondersteun, terwyl sig- en inhoudsgeldigheid op die leesbaarheid, uitklaring en ontwikkeling van die vraelys gefokus het. Die etiese standaarde is gebruik om die regte van deelnemers te beskerm. Vervolgens is die gekollekteerde data met SPSS ontleed. Die bevindinge is deur middel van tabelle van gemiddeldes, waar elke verandelike sy eie variansie vertoon het, voorgestel. Ten slotte is riglyne beskryf. Die resultate is as volg; kennis betrefffende geestesongesteldhede was baie swak onder die meerderheid repondente van Kinondoni se gemeenskap n=182 (61%) het vertoon dat geestesongestelde persone nie gereelde werk kan verig nie, geen vriende kringe het nie en baie gevaarlik is. Respondente n=239 (79.6%) het n negatiewe houdng teenoor persone met n geestesgebrek en maak melding dat geestesgestremde persone geen reg op om te werk besit, vriende te het en om te integreer in die gemeenskap. Die gevolgtrekking van die resultate toon dat die Kinondoni gemeenskaps lede baie min kennis en n negatiewe houding teenoor geestesgebreke het. Die navorser maak n volledige opsomming van die navorsings’ studie en maak n aanbeveling aan beleid opstellers om riglyne te formuleer deur versterking van die verpleeg praktyk en onderwys, om bewustheid van gesondheidsgebreke aan die gemeenskap daar te stel en beveel ook verdere studies aan.