Nakku, Sumayiya2026-10-142026-10-142025Nakku, S. (2026). Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among care givers of people with mental illness attending Mbale regional referral hospital mental clinic. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/10910Undergraduate research reportBackground: Mental illness is intensifying as a major public health concern and graded as the fourth leading debilitating disease internationally. WHO report of 2019 on mental illness revealed that 1 in 8 or 970million people around the world were leaving with mental disorder. In 2020, the number of people living with anxiety and depressive disorders increased with estimates of 26% and 28% respectively. Family and friends play a vital role in the care and support of individuals with mental illness, and their wellbeing is crucial to provide effective care. As a result, the caregivers experience ongoing stress and depression. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among primary care givers of people with mental illness attending mental clinic of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Methods: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study using quantitative methods of data collection, Study setting was Mbale regional referral hospital mental clinic, Study population were care givers of people with mental illness attending outpatient clinic. Results: Most (36.1%) of the care givers were aged 31 – 46 years, 32.2% aged above 46 years, Females (63.9%). 35.6% with above 3 children. Most of the care givers were married (72.3%) and self-employed (81%). Most (34%) had attained secondary education, with most being siblings (32.7%) and children (28.0%) in terms of relationship to the patient. 281(74.14%) were depressed and among those 125(32.98%) had mild depression, 133(35.09%) had moderate depression, 24(6.33%) had moderately severe depression, and 3(0.79%) had severe depression as summarized in table 1 below. Likewise among the 379 care givers 212(55.9%) had anxiety, with 190(50.13%) having mild anxiety, 20(5.28%) having moderate anxiety, and only 2(0.53%) having moderately severe anxiety. The factors that had influence on depression were gender, level of education by the care giver, number of children and relationship to the patient, anxiety was also affected by number of children, level of education, and relationship to the patient. Conclusion: The prevalence for depression was very high as compared to that of anxiety hence the health workers should continue to provide social support to the care givers while monitoring any features of depression and also anxiety. Key words: Depression, anxiety, mental illness, care givers, mental clinicenOther