The developments regarding mental health are still an ongoing process in India. As it is a well-known fact that India is a country that consists of a diverse society where gender, class, caste, sect, status, religion, ideologies, cultures, and many more exists to create the very essence of this melting pot. However, with such a vast geographical space where such diversities of identities exist, it is the flip side of the coin that it results in unequal distribution of resources among its inhabitants. This lack of resources and opportunities to some while abundance among others creates a shift within the structure of the society. This shift is commonly viewed as inequality.
Struggles of the Marginalized
This inequality creates a domino effect that creates ripples within the fundamental structures of the society such as the creation of hegemonic structures among sections of a society where the privileged ones get easy access while the marginalized ones often struggle to get their hands on the bare minimum.
This even happens with even fundamental resources such as healthcare and its accessibility among the population of the country. It is still important to note that access to healthcare is a fundamental right but these inequalities build up to the idea that access to healthcare is a privilege. And first and foremost, there exists a need to define the very meaning of this privilege and the context it inhabits.
Naturalization of Inequality
Privilege is a systematic process where certain individuals enjoy the advantages of resources because the have associations with the dominant groups in the society. And here the people that are excluded are not for their capabilities but for their lack of membership with the majority.
Also, there exists a side of the invisibility of privilege as it is not recognized by those who have it. Along with this an aspect of naturalization of privilege also remains present where the social hierarchy even in an unequal way provides a rational argument for the circumstances in the society. Furthermore, there exists entitlement in privilege and internalization of the dominance of existing patterns of privilege.
The mental well-being in India unfolds itself as a problem of the privileged. Although this idea is completely untrue and the country and its infrastructural-regulatory bodies have made significant changes in the sphere of mental health, there are many factors that that as hindrances for the accessibility of mental health resources among the general population that would create a further divide between the privileged and the excluded ones.
The contributing factors towards this divide are as follows
1) Stigma Regarding Mental Health
The general uneasiness within the widespread cultural perception of the country where issues regarding mental health are seen as perverse, crazy or weak. These create a hush around the subject matter and isolation for certain groups and individuals.
2) The Lack Of Awareness
A major amount of population in India lacks the educational awareness about mental health issue. Myths and misconceptions are result of the deficiency in knowledge. Also, issues that emerge from this is inability to get proper treatment and sensationalism and inaccuracies about the information at disposal.
3) Deficiency In Infrastructure
India is still in the process of investing its resources in mental health infrastructures. Thus, there are accessibility gaps among the vast population because of the unavailability of mental health professionals like psychiatrists and counselors especially in remote and rural areas. Therefore, widens the gap of between accessibility and privilege.
4) Lack Of Finances
The good old principles of economy and finances dictate the quality of goods and services being purchased. In India, most often psychiatric help is not charitable in nature, but has tones of commercialistic service to it. This creates a gap between those who can afford versus those who can’t even get the bare minimum as socioeconomic status completely determines the association with available resources.
5) The Difference Of Context Between The Urban And Rural Life
Urban cities have health care facilities with easy accessibility rather than their rural counterparts. Also, the lack of other infrastructures like education and other health care services results in overall inadequacies in the rural infrastructure of mental health institutions. Sometimes the conservative culture in rural areas creates isolation for the one in need as these ideas do not fit the norm.
6) Gender Divides
Women in India, particularly face issues regarding their mental health caused by unequal opportunities for them, gender-based violence and systematic oppression solely based on the factor of gender. This creates a severe crisis of unwell mental health among women. Also, the condition of women in India makes them a vulnerable group. This further perpetuates the idea that the accessibility for mental health is controlled by male caregivers that often refuse it to women because if many reasons related to honor and stigma.
7) Caste System And Minorities
It is well known fact that disparities and lack of opportunities and resources are gatekept to marginalize vulnerable groups like Dalits, OBCs, SCs and STs, and other minorities sometimes because of religion as well. Sometimes religion becomes a hindrance because of viewing these ideas of mental health as sinful.
The United Nations Human Rights has under its principle 1 that healthcare is a fundamental right along with mental health. The WHO actively focuses on healthcare, addressing all the factors encompassed in health, including mental health. Along with that in the Indian constitution healthcare is a fundamental right.
To hope for a better landscape of mental health in India. There need to be ways to increase accessibility for mental health resources.
Some suggestions are:
1. Expand The Available Resouces
The availability of mental health services does not match the demand. The supply vs demand is not in equilibrium, meaning lack of accessibility among general population while availability is only to a few.
2. Increasing Efforts For Awareness
Regulatory bodies should promote initiatives and campaigns that use effective strategies aligned with the social fabric of the country to tackle these negative stereotypes. Also, equipping the people with the knowledge and recognize the problem and later the procedures to seek professional help.
3. Building Of Infrastructural Facilities
Regardless of geographical location, be it urban, rural or remote, there needs to be an investment in providing mental health resources like institutions and professionals.
4. Integration In Primary Health Sector
The availability of mental health services in primary healthcare services can improve accessibility greatly because it becomes easy for documentation, visitation and consultation purposes.
5. Increasing Affordability
Subsidizing mental health treatments can lead to great accessibility within the masses as now it is available to all socioeconomic groups. Volunteer help in parts of the country where major lack of resources exists helps a great deal.
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