According to a study, depression will be the second-leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. Depression is widely prevalent in women in all age groups, especially in India. Indian women face hurdles which including stigma about mental health, lack of mental health professionals, lack of awareness, the disadvantaged position of women in society, multiple roles, increased levels of stress, and domestic violence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the depression is 50% higher for females than males.
The World Mental Health Report adds that depression is two to three times more common in women.
According to the WHO, Indians are among the world’s most depressed.
Depression is a “whole-body” illness, involving your body, mood, and thoughts that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. It causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness.
Depression can be mild to moderate with symptoms of low mood and aversion to activity, little appetite, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, and low-grade fatigue. Or it can be more severe.
There are several factors which could be affecting the mental health of indian women.
- Adolescence, when roles and expectations change dramatically. The stress of adolescence include forming an identity, confronting sexuality, separating from parents,Adjusting in a new relationship and family and making decisions for the first time. Apart from that physical and hormonal changes are also associated with the depression in females.
- Women’s reproductive events include the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the post pregnancy period, infertility, menopause, and sometimes, the decision not to have children. These events bring hormonal changes in women’s body. The menstruation is also a form of physical stress thus plays a role in depression. Hormones have an effect on brain chemistry. Changes in emotions and mood often result.
- Women in India can be attributed to many cultural norms. Societal pressure of patriarchy, hierarchy and multi-generational families contribute to Indian women roles. Women are also seen as less valuable to a family due to marriage obligations. Gender inequalities and discrimination are directly related to poor health outcomes for women.
- Some experts have suggested that the traditional upbringing of girls is also a factor in the higher rate of depression in women. The health of Indian women is linked to their status in society.
- The contributions Indian women make to families often are overlooked, and instead women are viewed as economic burdens. There is a strong son preference in India, as sons are expected to care for parents as they age. This son preference, along with high dowry costs for daughters, sometimes results in the mistreatment of daughters.Most of the Women have no autonomy, living under the control of first their fathers, then their husbands, and finally their sons.
India is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of gender inequality. The high level of gender inequality in India negatively impacts the health of women.
- Coercion by family members is not care. Compulsion is not love. These are tools used to control a woman’s actions and movements, and eventually her entire life. And where coercion doesn’t work, guilt often does. Societies and families use guilt as a tool to control women – guilt associated with breaking families, guilt about not honoring wishes of parents, guilt about not being a sacrificing partner. Guilt is toxic for women’s mental health.
- Indian brides are seen as puppets and expected to give up their individuality. A new bride’s behavior, speech, clothing and even laughter, activities is closely watched upon by the elders in the family. A “well-behaved” young woman is the best presentation a family can make in the society. This, once again, is a way to push young women into fitting into the idea of an “ideal” young woman and to meet the expectations of the family and the society.
Read: Why Indian brides are depressed post-marriage?
women are the person who had to adjust at every step to make the things go on working smoothly. It is possible that these are both factors in greater prevalence of depression in women.
- Women (and girls) are much more likely to be physically or sexually harassed/abused than men. A woman who is the victim of any type of abuse is more prone to depression such as physical abuse, sexual harassment and mental abuse, also may experience higher rates of depression. Abuse may lead to depression by low self-esteem, a sense of helplessness, self-blame, and social isolation.
- Studies shows that poverty is one of the “pathways to depression.” Low economic status comes with many stresses. Sadness and low morale are more common among persons with low incomes and those lacking social supports. But research has not yet established whether depression is more prevalent among these. One very large study has shown that depression tends to equally affect the poor and the rich.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in women in India. While we cannot change the country or the statistics right now, we can look out for the signs of depression in women, and then help them speak out or talk to someone.
We can also talk about depression, spread awareness and reduce the social stigma around getting help for mental health problems.
Let me know what do you think about this topic in the comment section.
For now, signing off until next post.
Like and subscribe to Life Hacks. & Do not forget to share this with your near and dear ones.
You may connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Thanks for reading | Stay happy, stay healthy.
Take care!
Recommended Articles:
- 13 Easy and Effective Time Management Tips
- Top 10 Tips to make yourself Mentally Strong
- Top 20 Ultimate Tips For Better College or Academic Life
- Top 10 Bits of Advice from a Judge who handled family dispute courts
- Top 10 Parenting Rules by Janusz Korczak you need to know
- Where There is a will, There is a way
- How to Stop Giving your Powers away to the world
- Infuse Your Life with Action
- All you need to know about “Anxiety Disorders”
- HOW TO HELP A DRUG ADDICT FAMILY MEMBER
The Life 
36 विचार “7 Worrying Reasons Why India’s Women Are More Prone To Depression Than Men&rdquo पर;