Women’s Reproductive Mental Health in Sri Lanka
摘要
This chapter describes an overview of the psychiatric morbidity and available services for women in the reproductive age group in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income country in South Asia, which in recent decades has seen a significant improvement in maternal health indices and service provision. But attention regarding mental health of women in the reproductive age group, especially perinatal women, has been more limited, mirroring trends seen across South Asia. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, suicide and self-harm in this age group, including among perinatal mothers, are a matter of concern. Despite considerable advances in psychiatric services in Sri Lanka, gaps remain in addressing the specific mental health needs of women in the reproductive age group. Thus, initiatives aimed at enhancing mental health resources and collaboration between stake holders are crucial for bolstering the overall well-being of women. This will ensure they receive comprehensive support in navigating these challenges. More research on the range of mental disorders in women, interventions including ways of improving access to treatment for women with psychosocial difficulties and the effectiveness of different service delivery models are needed to move forwards.