Social and Cultural Determinants of Mental Health

Social determinants of mental health in the industrialised world and in post-colonial societies are found to be directly related to intersectional vulnerabilities of class, caste/race/ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, language, education and geographical location. The chapter highlights the role of family and kinship networks that determine gender norms and socialisation patterns including the role of school, community and societal practices such as gender-based violence in personal and public life, restriction of career choices by parents and after marriage by the husband and in-laws, sexual harassment at workplace, customs and traditions that degrade human beings and make them feel unwanted, children pressurised to perform beyond their willingness and abilities, dehumanising sex stereotypes that promote son preference, aversion to daughters and stigmatisations of the sexual minorities/transgender persons, educated women not allowed self-actualisation by pursuit of knowledge face mental health problems manifesting in depression, loss of interest in life, feeling of hopelessness, suicidal tendency etc. It also covers the issues of populations with intersectional vulnerabilities such as Dalits, ethnic-religious-sexual minorities, survivors of sexual violence, persons with disabilities, poor and unemployed facing discrimination, dehumanisation and exclusion from social spaces that result in acute mental health challenges. The uniqueness of this chapter lies in its extensive mapping of the successful initiative of Women’s Grievance Redressal Cells (WGRC), a project by Mohalla Committee Movement, Mumbai. The chapter also makes eclectic suggestions including micro, mezzo and macro interventions to enable respect for gender diversity and plurality in order to ensure inclusive family and community-based structures that promote and ensure overall mental well-being. It thrusts on creation of systems and structures that promote intersection justice through gender inclusive mental health legislations and rules, data driven and evidence-based policy, affirmative action backed by adequate funds, clearly defined functions and competent and empathetic functionaries.