Women’s Reproductive Mental Health in India
摘要
Women’s mental health during the reproductive period—encompassing menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause—represents a critical yet under-addressed public health concern in India. This chapter explores the multifaceted challenges that Indian women face during these life stages, shaped by intersecting socio-cultural, economic, and structural factors. High prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and other common mental disorders during the perinatal period are compounded by limited access to mental health services, stigma, and the normalization of psychological distress. The chapter also highlights medical disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, mastectomy, and hysterectomy and their association with mental health conditions. Gender-based violence, poverty, early marriage, and lack of reproductive autonomy further exacerbate mental health risks.