Annexure-B

OUTLINE OF CONCEPT NOTE FOR RESEARCH STUDY IN MENTAL HEALTH

OF WOMEN IN INDIA

Background
Gender is a critical determinant of mental health. World statistics show that more than 41%
women suffer from neuro-psychiatric disorders as compared to 29% for men. In India, the best
source of recent data from the general population (National Mental Health Survey, 2015-16)
shows that, although the overall prevalence of mental morbidity was higher among males
(13.9%) than among females (7.5%), this was because of the much higher prevalence of
substance use disorders in males. However, specific mental disorders like mood disorders
(depression), neurotic disorders (phobic anxiety disorders, agarophobia, generalised anxiety
disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders) were higher in females. Moreover, depression
and anxiety were higher in females as compared to males based on data from multiple sources
of all states of India as part of Global Burden of Disease study (GBD-India study, 2020).This
is important because depression and anxiety are the most common mental disorders
worldwide.

Data from the Indian National Crime Records Bureau on suicide shows consistently that the
largest single social group among those committing suicide is that of housewives. The reasons
for such levels of anxiety among women could be many—either abuse, violence,
abandonment, inequity etc. The current Covid-19 pandemic has increased all these stresses
considerably which is a matter of great concern.

It is the mandate of NCW to sponsor research studies on gender themes with a view to fine-
tuning existing policy on women with a view to addressing problems and creating a more
gender-friendly society. This year mental health of women in India is a key theme that has
been taken up for sponsoring research.