Tribal Mental Health And Belief Systems In India

Abstract

Health problems have increased significantly among Indian tribes, but knowledge, accessibility, and treatment seeking are meagre. The concept of mental health and beliefs about its conception has many different meanings and interpretations among tribal populations. It is crucial to evaluate the knowledge of mental health problems, ways to seek help, and obstacles faced by tribal communities when seeking assistance. The paper aims to collect and analyse research on tribal communities' mental health beliefs and access to care in India. Jstor, Google Scholar, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PubMed, and Scopus were used to identify and review studies published between 2016 and December 31, 2022. The relevant studies have been summarised and described in detail. Community-based research has limited studies on mental health concerns among tribal populations. Fewer studies examined mental health issues like depression, psychosis, mood disorders and anxiety. Faith healers play a significant role in the treatment of mental illnesses. It is crucial to develop culturally appropriate tools and strategies to estimate the prevalence of mental illnesses in tribal communities and methods to tackle them. Indigenous ethnomedicine knowledge must be combined with modern medicine to improve access and knowledge.