India's mental health landscape is complex, shaped by its rich culture and large people. Historically, the country has taken a biological approach to mental health, emphasising medicalisation and pharmaceutical therapies. However, criticism of this method has grown because of its narrow focus on biological elements, which ignores the tremendous impact of social and cultural influences, particularly in a society dealing with difficulties like poverty and violence. Furthermore, the biological model's supremacy is due to more than just psychiatrists' influence; it also reflects public health experts' minimal involvement in policymaking. Mental health is inextricably related to society's conventions and beliefs, which adds to the complexity of the situation within India. In response to these issues, there is a growing demand for a more comprehensive strategy considering biological, psychological, and social variables.
Within this framework, a feminist care ethics approach is essential. This viewpoint recognises the distinct problems and cultural settings that affect the mental health of women, gay people, and other marginalised groups throughout the gender and sexuality spectrum. Feminist psychology, which emerged in the early twentieth century, criticised discriminatory techniques and sexism in the discipline, emphasising the importance of understanding mental health in the context of oppressive influences such as societal prejudice and patriarchal standards.
For example, instances of social prejudice during therapy sessions highlight the critical need for a strategy that addresses these concerns. While the feminist movement has made progress, there is still a deficit in treating the mental health of activists, who frequently experience secondary trauma. Furthermore, the feminist method can address gender bias in diagnostic practices and clinics, reducing women's overdiagnosis and men's underdiagnosis for mental health concerns.
Feminist care ethics also sheds light on the gendered experiences of mental health issues among female students, who may encounter particular obstacles such as sexual coercion, violence, and discrimination. Intersectionality is important in this context because it demonstrates how caste, class, and religion interact with gender to influence mental health. Women from marginalised communities, for example, may encounter additional barriers to mental health care due to the cultural acceptability of violence and communication difficulties associated with their social standing.
Furthermore, this viewpoint questions the dominant biological approach in college mental health organisations, asking for a more inclusive strategy that takes into account gender dynamics, power imbalances, and systemic inequities. By emphasising the relevance of these aspects, feminist care ethics might pave the way for a more complete and inclusive approach to mental health care in India, meeting the country's unique needs and fostering more justice in mental health services.
Finally, incorporating a feminist care ethics viewpoint into mental health practices in colleges across India has enormous potential to build a more inclusive and equitable approach to student well-being. Colleges may create a more supportive atmosphere for their student populations by identifying marginalised groups' unique issues and considering the intersectionality of characteristics such as gender, caste, class, and religion. Emphasising the role of socioeconomic variables, power dynamics, and systemic disparities in mental health care delivery can result in more comprehensive and successful interventions. Finally, by embracing feminist care ethics, Indian colleges may make great progress towards fostering mental health parity and ensuring that all students have access to the assistance and resources they require to prosper academically, socially, and emotionally.