Skip to main content

Social and Cultural Determinants of Mental Health in India

Prince et al. (1998) has defined culture as “the totality of habits, beliefs, ideas, attitudes and values, as well as the behaviors that spring from them (language, art, eating habits, marriage patterns, and so forth)”. The World Health Organization or WHO (2014) has highlighted “the need to specifically address social determinants of mental health, and recognition of the influence of social determinants on mental health”. The study of mental disorders across cultures is of value because mental illnesses are generally from a universal point of view but cultural implications are present and hence they should be recognized to fit specific needs of the populations.

Social exclusion refers to the inability of our society to give all groups of individuals resources to reach their full potential. Important variables that indicate exclusion from social and economic opportunities are economic capability (poverty), age, gender, caste and religion, etc. In the Indian context, caste can be broadly considered as a proxy for socio-economic status. Scheduled caste, Scheduled tribes and the other backward castes are socially disadvantaged groups and they have a higher probability of living under poverty and adverse conditions.

Only a small number of studies have examined links between social disadvantage and mental health. (Jadhav and Jodhka, 2012). Some studies are given below:-
  1. In a study done in Chennai, Poongothai et al. (2009) found that both individuals with lower socioeconomic status and of female gender were associated with depression. These findings have been similar to the ones reported from the state of Goa in India (Patel et al., 1999).
  2. Housen et al. (2017) found in a study that 41% of the population of the Kashmir valley had probable depression, and exposure to traumatic events was significantly associated with mental illness.
  3. Mathias et al. (2015) has found higher levels of depression among people from lower castes compared to higher castes in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand which is a state in north India.
  4. In Nepal, which is a country with a similar caste structure as India, Hawes et al. (2016) has found that Dalits are more likely to experience depressive episodes in comparison to higher caste Brahmins and Chhetris.
  5. Spears (2016) has used data from a survey conducted in villages in the 13 districts of North India to show that Scheduled Castes report lower life satisfaction than people from other castes.
Most efforts by the Indian government to address social disadvantage focus on directing resources to marginalized social groups. These efforts in the form of policies and programs, while valuable for the people who benefit from them, do little to address the underlying environment of discrimination that perpetuates inequality across the lifecourse, including disparities in health (Tadvi and Vemula, 2019; Thorat et al., 2007; Housen et al., 2017) In the present understanding of social determinants in health, holistic views suggest a systemic understanding especially of interactions between people and the health service system. There needs to be development of inclusive and holistic programs based on ecosystemic models that can integrate both basic needs and mental health care on both state and country level. These measures should help reduce the psychological distress of those affected by the exploitation due to social inequalities.

Promoting mental health while addressing its social determinants also helps in preventing mental disorders and related suicides. We will only be prepared in future to deal with pandemic like situations if we all work towards reducing social inequalities in the coming years and if we put in place equitable and strong social protection systems. A population specific mental health approach will reduce disparities and serve as a protective factor for the development of mental disorders. It will also allow mental health care to be made more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Written by:
Kashvi Juneja

References:
  • Patel, V., Flisher, A. J., & Cohen, A. (2008). Social and cultural determinants of mental health. Essential Psychiatry, 419-433.
  • White, R. G., Orr, D. M., Read, U. M., & Jain, S. (2017). Situating Global Mental Health: Sociocultural Perspectives. The Palgrave Handbook of Sociocultural Perspectives on Global Mental Health, 1-27.
  • Nayar, K. R. (2007). Social exclusion, caste & health: a review based on the social determinants framework. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 126(4), 355.
  • Gupta, A., & Coffey, D. (2019). Caste, religion, and mental health in India. Population Research and Policy Review, 1-23.
  • Cénat, J. M., Dalexis, R. D., Kokou-Kpolou, C. K., Mukunzi, J. N., & Rousseau, C. (2020). Social inequalities and collateral damages of the COVID-19 pandemic: when basic needs challenge mental health care. International Journal of Public Health, 65(6), 717-718.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Effect of Career Pressure on Mental Health

Years pass by to formulate and decide on a definite career path for ourselves . The process is undertaken at quite a young age of an individual. For some the career choice is pre- decided for them by their guardians and for the latter the struggle of choosing from multiple choices of career preferences turns into an undying helix of confusion and self doubting. Even the students who have accomplished in their respective fields have had several doubts and pressure during his or her teenage. Career pressure is something which does not stop even after acquiring a job. It bothers a person to an extent where he or she undergoes constant stress and anxiety. High pressure jobs have often led people to take up psychological aid in order to cope up with the building pressure. Let’s unravel the journey of this pressure which is carried on from time to time , and which quite vividly remains static for a longer period causing an air of lethargy to develop ar
7 comments
Read more

Maternal Depression And Child Development

Moms who are depressed often suffer in silence -- but this common illness can also take a heavy toll on their children. That's why getting treated has become an eternal part. Millions of children are caught in the web of maternal depression. As many as one in four women will suffer from this biological illness at some point in her lifetime, including about 10 percent of new mothers who develop postpartum depression (PPD) . Not only is a child with a depressed parent two to four times more likely to develop depression himself before adulthood, but extensive research has shown that a mother's depression, especially when untreated, can interfere with her child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Helpless and Hopeless People who've been depressed say that it's almost impossible to explain what it feels like. "You become unbearably miserable, lethargic, and incapable of any joy or enthusiasm," says Anne Sheffield, author of Sorr
Post a Comment
Read more

MENTAL HEALTH: MYTHS AND FACTS

Have you ever discussed about your mental health! NO? But why? Mental health is as important as physical health.You should take care of your mental health in the same way you take care of your physical health. Emotional wellness incorporates our enthusiastic, mental, and social prosperity.It affects how we think, feel, and act.Similarly, it assists with deciding how we handle pressure, identify with others, and settle on decisions. Psychological wellness is significant at each phase of life, from childhood and pre-adulthood through adulthood. The stigma associated with mental health, lack of awareness and limited access to professional help are the reasons why only 10% to 12% of suffering people seek help. The stigma attached gives birth to a lot of myths about mental health. Check out these myths and their reality about mental health that needs to be addressed immediately! 1. MYTH: Mental health problems are rare. I am safe. FACT: Mental health problems are actually ve
10 comments
Read more