Abstract: Review was done to assess the burden of mental disorders and to study the various issues and challenges at community level. We searched the electronic databases for studies related to prevalence of various psychiatric morbidities and associated factors at community level. World Health Organization estimated that mental and behavioural disorders account for about 12 percent of the global burden of diseases. In India the burden of mental and behavioural disorders ranged from 9.5 to 102 per 1000 population. Burden of mental disorders seen by the world is only a tip of iceberg. Various studies had shown that the prevalence of mental disorders were high in females, elderly, disaster survivors, industrial workers, children, adolescent and those having chronic medical conditions. There is need to have better living conditions, political commitment, primary health care and women empowerment.