Indigenous Peoples globally may have a higher risk of mental health illnesses than the general population with mental health burden often being greater for Indigenous women. This chapter explored the mental health of Indigenous women in South Asia. A scoping review of the literature, utilising Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, was undertaken for literature published between 2004 and 2024. Six databases were searched and 333 articles were identified. Title/abstract and full text were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria which resulted in 17 articles being included in the final review. Fourteen studies took place in India, 2 in Bangladesh and 1 in Pakistan whilst 15 articles were quantitative and 2 were qualitative. A significant burden of mental health issues was identified for Indigenous women. Articles highlighted the importance of the social determinants of health as risk factors. Accesses to interventions to support mental health were limited and there was a preference, among some, for traditional support such as faith healers and herbal remedies. The stigma around mental health was highlighted as a barrier to accessing support and mental health issues were attributed to a wide range of factors including supernatural, biological, and environmental factors. Psychological resilience was supported through community and cultural activities. Interventions need to be culturally responsive reflecting Indigenous worldviews and traditions. Action on the social determinants of health is needed including a focus on reducing social exclusion and structural disempowerment. More research is needed on the mental health of Indigenous women in South Asia.

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Mental Health of Indigenous Women in South Asia: A Scoping Review

  • Manisha Gore,
  • Julia Morgan

摘要

Indigenous Peoples globally may have a higher risk of mental health illnesses than the general population with mental health burden often being greater for Indigenous women. This chapter explored the mental health of Indigenous women in South Asia. A scoping review of the literature, utilising Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, was undertaken for literature published between 2004 and 2024. Six databases were searched and 333 articles were identified. Title/abstract and full text were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria which resulted in 17 articles being included in the final review. Fourteen studies took place in India, 2 in Bangladesh and 1 in Pakistan whilst 15 articles were quantitative and 2 were qualitative. A significant burden of mental health issues was identified for Indigenous women. Articles highlighted the importance of the social determinants of health as risk factors. Accesses to interventions to support mental health were limited and there was a preference, among some, for traditional support such as faith healers and herbal remedies. The stigma around mental health was highlighted as a barrier to accessing support and mental health issues were attributed to a wide range of factors including supernatural, biological, and environmental factors. Psychological resilience was supported through community and cultural activities. Interventions need to be culturally responsive reflecting Indigenous worldviews and traditions. Action on the social determinants of health is needed including a focus on reducing social exclusion and structural disempowerment. More research is needed on the mental health of Indigenous women in South Asia.