Background: Mental health is one of the major public health concerns today. Women, who play multiple active roles in their families experience stress at all levels. This study was conducted to assess the mental health status and its contributory factors in mothers having young children in the urban area of Tamilnadu, India. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 mothers of young children, regarding their mental health status. All relevant information was collected using a pre-tested, predesigned interview schedule and the parental stress scale. Results: This study has shown that 22% of the mothers were at moderate stress level. Correlation analysis has shown that magnitude of stress is higher in mothers with more number of children and the level of stress is high among mothers having low income for their family. Conclusions: A preventive program including screening of mothers for stress and other psychosocial hazard along with sensitising the need for identifying and seeking help in time will help them to have a better mental health.