Human rights violations among economically disadvantaged women with mental illness: An Indian perspective

Globally women confront manifold violations of human rights and women with poverty and mental illness are doubly disadvantaged.

The aim was to examine the influence of poverty in meeting human rights needs among recovered women with mental illness at family and community level.

This was a descriptive study carried out among randomly selected (n = 100) recovered women with mental illness at a tertiary care center. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using structured needs assessment questionnaire.

Our findings revealed that below poverty line (BPL) participants were not satisfied in meeting their physical needs such as "access to safe drinking water" (χ(2) = 8.994, P < 0.02), "served in the same utensils" (χ(2) = 13.648, P < 0.00), had adequate food (χ(2) = 11.025, P < 0.02), and allowed to use toilet facilities (χ(2) = 13.565, P < 0.00). The human rights needs in emotional dimension, that is, afraid of family members (χ(2) = 8.233, P < 0.04) and hurt by bad words (χ(2) = 9.014, P < 0.02) were rated higher in above poverty line (APL) participants. Similarly, 88.9% of women from APL group expressed that they were discriminated and exploited by the community members (χ(2) = 17.490, P < 0.00). More than three-fourths of BPL participants (76.1%) believed that there were wondering homeless mentally ill in their community (χ(2) = 11.848, P < 0.01).

There is an urgent need to implement social welfare programs to provide employment opportunities, disability allowance, housing and other social security for women with mental illness. Further, mental health professionals play an essential role in educating the family and public regarding human rights of people with mental illness.