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Mental health problem is a public health problem. In Ethiopia, where malnutrition and preventable infectious diseases are very common, mental illness are not given due attention. This study is intended to explore the status of mental health problem and implementing Mental Health Services in primary health care setting in Oromia Region. Mixed method explanatory research design was employed. Apart from interview, FGD and document analysis, Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), World Health Organization-Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS) and Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) were used for assessment from 532 randomly selected respondents. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, Multivariate logistic regression, multiple linear regressions and ANOVA were utilized. As a result, the prevalence of common mental disorders among community was 13.6%. Specifically, feeling nervous (16.3%), losing interest in things (16.1%), feeling unhappy (15.4%), problems with decision making (14.5%) and fatigue (12.5%) were highly prevalent. Also, age, educational status and income of respondents were significantly associated with higher prevalence of common mental disorders. While being divorced in marital status was found to be a risk factor from common mental disorders. According to WHO-AIMS, the implementation of mental health service was in general down beat. All respondents confirmed that there is no practical mental health strategy, mental health action plan, mental health legislation, plan for monitoring and training on human rights in mental health, financing of mental health services, day treatment facilities, availability of psychosocial treatment in mental health facilities, community residential facilities, mental hospitals, forensic inpatient units, other residential facilities and community-based psychiatric inpatient units. In addition, 37.1% of the respondents had positive attitude towards mental illness. Sex was associated with authoritarianism. Marital status, educational status and training on mental health of respondents had significant effect on authoritarianism, benevolence, social restrictiveness and mental health ideology attitude of the community towards mental illness. As conclusion, common mental health disorder symptoms were prevalent among the community indicating a need to develop strategies to change it at community level. Creating and routinely arranging mental health interventions and rehabilitation services are advisable.
