Epidemiology of Mental Health and Mental Health Issues of Women in India: A Literature Review

Worldwide 450 million (12%) people suffer from disability and this will be increased up to 15% in the year 2020, as per WHO estimation. Psychiatric Epidemiological studies in India from 1964 to 2001, shows increasing trends of mental health morbidity prevalence from 9.5 to 102.8 per 1000 population and new incidence cases were over 16.0 per 1000 population. A study reported that overall life time prevalence of mental disorder to be around 5%. Depression, anxiety, and unspecified psychological distress are 2–3 times more common among women compare to men. Common Mental Disorders is common among poor women and the causes may be hormonal factors (reproductive cycle may play a role of increased vulnerability to depression), other factors are excessive partner, alcohol use, sexual, physical violence by the husband, being widowed or separated, having low autonomy in decision making, and low levels of support from one’s family. Illiteracy and women mental health is significantly associated in India. Suicide and DDDrape also related to mental health issues in Indian women. In 2012, National Crime Records Bureau reported 24,923 rape cases and among them 98% being committed by someone known to victims. Studies found that girls from nuclear families and women married at a very young age are in higher risk for committing suicide. To reduce these problems, Indian Constitution made several articles and acts to safeguard the disabilities/issues including women. Several NGO’s and VO’s are also working for the development of this section.