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Social Barriers to Mental Well-Being in Women of South Asia

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The Sociology of South Asian Women’s Health

Abstract

Globally, mental distress in women is higher compared to men, and yet in South Asia there is extreme neglect for service care and awareness related to mental health. This chapter discusses three critical areas of: the social factors that place South Asian women at increased risk of mental health challenges at different life stages, the social barriers that prevent access to mental healthcare services, and the socioeconomic costs of neglecting women’s mental health. Country-wise assessment of mental health problems is investigated through a literature review in order to understand specific and comparative problems for South Asia. We also present primary data regarding perceptions of women primary healthcare physicians regarding mental health of South Asian women. Through thematic analysis we have been able to identify medical problems coexisting with mental health problems and socio-structural barriers to improved women’s mental healthcare in South Asia. Finally, we are able to recommend necessary improvements for mental health support, including: (i) extensive integration of mental healthcare services at federal and provincial level; (ii) provision of trained specialists and nonspecialist mental healthcare providers within the community at primary level; (iii) immediate relief for women who cannot escape emotional abuse, like daycare centers, halfway homes, sheltered workshops, and temporary-stay facilities; (iv) formal monitoring for the function and efficacy of private and NGO mental health programs; and (v) reducing stigma against mental health and improving awareness and support through systematic government schemes, media literacy, and small participatory programs, religious psychology, and community-based interventions combining women, men, and families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Psychology Department, Kinnaird University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Masha Asad Khan

  2. Department of Sociology, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Sara Rizvi Jafree

  3. Advance Health, Toronto, Canada

    Tahira Jibeen

  4. ClinicVillage Centre, Mississauga, Canada

    Tahira Jibeen

Authors
  1. Masha Asad Khan
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  2. Sara Rizvi Jafree
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  3. Tahira Jibeen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Sara Rizvi Jafree

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Khan, M.A., Jafree, S.R., Jibeen, T. (2020). Social Barriers to Mental Well-Being in Women of South Asia. In: Jafree, S. (eds) The Sociology of South Asian Women’s Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50204-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50204-1_7

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