Relevance of gender in mental health in India: women are disadvantaged

Abstract

When it comes to mental health, gender matters. Men and women experience psychological stress in different ways.
Gender disparities are especially noticeable in mental illnesses that are more common in women. In addition to being
more likely than other women to experience sexual or physical abuse, women who misuse alcohol or drugs tend to
blame their drinking on stressful situations or traumatic experiences. Young married women and girls from nuclear
homes are more likely to commit suicide or self-harm.
Social and gender-specific variables influence the occurrence and progression of mental illnesses in female patients.
The low number of hospital visits among women can be partially attributed to their lack of resources. In India, over
two-thirds of married women are victims of domestic abuse. The prevalence of domestic violence from 2019 to 2021
was 31.2%. Approximately 28.5%, 13.1% and 5.7% of women reported experiences of physical, emotional and sexual
violence (Mishra SK et al., 2024).
Social, political, economic and legal reforms have the potential to transform Indian women’s lives and improve their
mental wellbeing. To deal with the difficulties that women’s mental health presents today, it is critical to approach
mental health initiatives from a gender perspective. In addition, investigating alternative approaches to service delivery,
including the use of mobile phone technology, which has the potential to be efficient and increase accessibility to
services, can enhance the provision of mental healthcare for women.