INDIA: Most women avoid seeking professional help for their mental health in the face of ongoing issues and worry, as per a new survey.
Women have been subjected to discrimination, oppression, and blatant sexism in all aspects of society, be it in the professional space like in one’s office or in a place that is supposed to be one’s safe haven, their homes. Glass ceilings, domestic violence, discrimination, work-related stress, stress from unproductivity, etc. gravely impact women’s mental well being.
Seeking mental well being assistance and professional help is absolutely imperative as a stepping stone for personal fulfillment. According to a recent survey conducted by miindmymiind.com, a startup mental health platform, approximately 62% of women expressed a desire for professional help, with only 9% actually seeking it.
As per the survey, mental health issues are more prevalent in the age group ranging from 40 to 49 years and affect more people who reside in the urban, progressive regions of cities, where working women face the need for seeking mental health help more.
Gurrit Kaur Sethi, founder of miindmymiind.com added in an interview with the media that “nobody can serve if the vessel is empty! Recognising and eradicating the stigma associated with women’s mental health difficulties is a major need of the hour.”
She also stated that “if women find it difficult to leave their homes to seek help, we must bring mental health services to them. Almost 74.55% of the women polled stated that the online style of counselling made it easier to get help.”
A lot of women are affected by myriad mental health issues that increase with time, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), whereby one in every eight women faces a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression.
286 women in India who chose to respond to the study have confessed that the immediate people to whom women reach out in most cases are their friends and families.
26.5% of women mentioned that they do not talk with anyone about their problems, internalise them, and try to deal with them themselves. This study also documents responses from a total of 350 women from various age groups in India and Thailand.
Also Read: Most Indian Women Seeking Mental Health Care under 35: Study
