“‘I strongly feel that this book will be useful for postgraduate students, research scholars, as well as faculty in the field of gender studies, mental health, as well as social work and sociology.’ I agree with the target audience described. ... This volume will be helpful to clinicians and researchers alike.” (Gary B Kaniuk, Doody's Book Reviews, January 16, 2021)
Introduction
PART I Conceptual Underpinnings for Gender and Mental Health
1. Gender, Mental Health and Well- Being by Nilima Srivastava and Meenu Anand
2. Biopsychosocial Perspective of Women Mental Health in India by Kamlesh Kumar Sahu
3. Gender, Emotion and Depression: Decolonizing the Frame by Bhargavi V.Davar
4. Gender Roles in Mental Health: A Stigmatized Perspective? by Manjeet Singh and Dr Aparna Goyal
5. Understanding and Locating Mental Health in a Cross Cultural Context: Indigenous Community Perspectives by Adusumalli Malathi
PART II Mental Health Scenario in India: A Gendered Lens
6. Mental Health Aspects of ‘#MeToo Movement': Challenges and Opportunities by R.S.Murthy
7. Psycho- Social Rehabilitation- The Past, Current Approaches and Future Perspectives by Roy Abraham Kallivayalil and Sheena Varughese
8. Gender and Schizophrenia: Are Differences Biological or Social? by Ananya Mahapatra and Smita N. Deshpande
9. Framing Queer Mental Health – From deviant subjects to knowledge producers by Ketki Ranade
10. Female Criminality, Mental Health and the Law by Saumya Uma
11. Influence of Disability on the Mental Health of Women by Abhishek Thakur
PART III Gendering Mental Health: Narratives from the Field
12. Homelessness and Women Living with Mental Health Issues: Lessons from The Banyan’s Experience in Chennai, Tamil Nadu by Lakshmi Narasimhan, KV Kishore Kumar, Barbara Regeer and Vandana Gopikumar
13. Gender and Community Mental Health: Experiences of Mehac Foundation- A community based mental health service in Kerala, South India by Anupama V Prabhu, Anu Sonia Vincent, Uma Parameswaran, Chitra Venkateswaran
14. Gender Differentials in the Presentation of Symptoms, Assessment, Diagnosis And Treatment of Mentally Ill Prisoners by Mark David Chong, Abraham Francis and Jamie Fellows
15. Towards a Paradigm Shift: Social Work Response to Women Living with Mental Disorders byShubhada Maitra
16. Practicing Strengths-Based Approach with Women Survivors of Domestic Violence by Gunjan Chandhok and Meenu Anand
Conclusion
Meenu Anand, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, India. She has an extensive professional experience and exposure in the areas of gender, education and mental health. Formerly with the Women's Studies & Development Centre, University of Delhi, she has also taught at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi. Dr. Anand has been actively involved in working on issues related to gender, mental health and education for more than two decades. She has led various national and international projects focussing on multifaceted developmental issues during her specialized work experience with various grassroots NGOs. Dr. Meenu Anand also specializes as a trainer and conducts various capacity building and gender sensitization workshops for school, college and university teachers, journalists, police personnel, NGO functionaries and several other stakeholders. She has been instrumental in the development of curriculum at the Post Graduate level on gender for Women’s Studies and Development Centre, University of Delhi. She has an exhaustive list of publications to her credit, in the form of books as well as research papers in national and international journals that seek to highlight issues related to gender, mental health and social work within interdisciplinary frameworks. Dr. Anand is passionate about working and researching on gender, education and mental health.
This book focuses on various aspects of gender and mental health. Drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives and scholarship, it summarizes the complex intertwining of illness and culture in the context of the rising frequency of mental disorders. The book is divided into three sections, the first of which examines the fundamental and conceptual underpinnings of mental health, well-being and wellness from a gender perspective, in order to present an overview of mental health through a holistic gender lens. The second section focuses on the mental health scenario in India, examining the epidemiological data and etiology of mental illness from a psychosocial standpoint. Lastly, the third section shares field-based narratives that reflect the multifaceted challenges related to the treatment of mental illness, inclusion and the promotion of positive mental health. It also includes success stories in diverse settings. The book is an indispensable read for scholars and professionals in psychology, sociology, gender studies and social work.