Gender and Mental Health Combining Theory and Practice

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.

Understanding Gender and Mental Health.- Gender, Depression and Emotion: Arguing for a De-Colonized Psychology.- Women with Mental Illness: A Psychosocial Perspective.- Gender Roles in Mental Health: A Stigmatized Perspective.- Understanding and Locating Mental Health in a Cross-Cultural Context:  Indigenous Community Perspectives.- Mental Health Aspects of  the ‘#MeToo Movement': Challenges and Opportunities.- The Intersectionality of Gender, Disability and Mental health.

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.