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Mental Health Concerns for Indian Women

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  • Sarah Basu

Abstract

This article studies the mental health problems of women, especially in the Indian context. As per World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, depression is expected to be the second largest contributor to disease burden by 2020, and with one in every three women worldwide being afflicted by common mental disorders including depression, the mental health of women is a serious issue indeed. While studying the psychological construct of mental health, we come to understand that it is deeply embedded within an individual’s social and socioeconomic relationships. Since women worldwide, and more so in India, face gender-based discrimination at every stage of their lives, their psychological well-being becomes a cause for great concern. This note attempts to explore the various risk and protective factors affecting the mental health of women. Considering the gravity of the matter, urgent remedial measures such as understanding the underlying causes of psychological distress among women, adopting a gender-sensitive approach, working towards women’s empowerment and formulating women-friendly health policies could work wonders for the mental health of Indian women.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Basu, 2012. "Mental Health Concerns for Indian Women," Indian Journal of Gender Studies, Centre for Women's Development Studies, vol. 19(1), pages 127-136, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indgen:v:19:y:2012:i:1:p:127-136
    DOI: 10.1177/097152151101900106
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rao, Vijayendra, 1997. "Wife-beating in rural South India: A qualitative and econometric analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(8), pages 1169-1180, April.
    2. Patel, Vikram & Araya, Ricardo & de Lima, Mauricio & Ludermir, Ana & Todd, Charles, 1999. "Women, poverty and common mental disorders in four restructuring societies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 49(11), pages 1461-1471, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nur Zafifa Kamarun, 2017. ""Even I Have a Negative Gaze": How Depressive Patients Conceptualize Stigma Experiences," GATR Journals gjbssr475, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.

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