"We feel ashamed to talk about it". Navigating mental health problems for women in rural Pakistan: An interplay of financial, sociocultural, and environmental factors.

Abstract

The authors of this research explored community perspectives on women's mental health in rural Pakistan, using a qualitative approach to identify beliefs hindering women's access to mental healthcare. Data were collected through 15 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 15 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders in Gilgit-Baltistan, using purposive sampling. The researchers revealed low community awareness of mental health and a lack of diagnostic and treatment services for women. Financial, sociocultural, and environmental factors, along with gender discrimination, poverty, and violence, worsened women's mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic further escalated issues due to lockdowns, school closures, increased workload, and reduced income. The authors' results suggest that women living in rural Pakistan face a significant burden of mental health challenges, coupled with obstacles that limit their access to treatment. The authors underscored the need for both universal and targeted interventions to address mental health challenges among rural women.