Gore, Manisha and Morgan, Julia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6218-7593 (2025) The mental health of indigenous women in South Asia: a scoping review. In: Chouhan, Pradip, Chandra Das, Kailash, Roy, Avijit, Kapasia, Nanigopal and Rahaman, Margubur, (eds.) Women's Health Dynamics in South Asia: Perspectives, Challenges, and Innovations. Asian Perspectives on Public Health (APPH) . Springer, Singapore. ISBN 978-9819523207; 978-9819523214 (In Press)

PDF (Accepted Book Chapter) 50915 MORGAN_The_Mental_Health_Of_Indigenous_Women_In_South_Asia_A_Scoping_Review_(AAM BOOK CHAPTER)_2025.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 2 December 2026. Download (458kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Indigenous Peoples globally may have a higher risk of mental health illnesses than the general population with mental health burden often being greater for Indigenous women. This chapter explored the mental health of Indigenous women in South Asia. A scoping review of the literature, utilising Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, was undertaken for literature published between 2004-2024. Six databases were used and 333 articles were identified. Title/abstract and full text were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria which resulted in 17 articles being included in the final review. Fourteen studies took place in India, 2 in Bangladesh and 1 in Pakistan whilst 15 articles were quantitative and 2 were qualitative. Significant burden of mental health issues was identified for Indigenous women. Articles highlighted the importance of the social determinants of health as risk factors. Access to interventions to support mental health were limited and there was a preference, amongst some, for traditional support such as faith healers and herbal remedies. Stigma around mental health was highlighted as a barrier to accessing support and mental health issues were attributed to a wide range of factors including supernatural, biological and environmental factors. Psychological resilience was supported through community and cultural activities. Interventions need to be culturally responsive reflecting Indigenous worldviews and traditions. Action on the social determinants of health is needed including a focus on reducing social exclusion and structural disempowerment. More research is needed on the mental health on Indigenous women in South Asia.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	Series ISSN 2731-7242 Series E-ISSN 2731-7250
Uncontrolled Keywords:	indigenous women, South Asia, mental health, scoping review
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	11 Aug 2025 14:16
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50915

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