Women and Mental Health*

Honorable delegates and guests from India and abroad, fellows and members of the Indian Psychiatric Society and dear friends, I am indeed honored by the trust that you have reposed in me for ha\nng elected me to this highest office of the Indian Psychiatric Society. It is with a great sense of responsibility that I assume charge of this office of the apex body of Mental Health Professionals in the country. My predecessors have all been illustrious persons and some of them were my esteemed teachers. I shall sincerely try to achieve the high standards already established by them and come up to your expectations. Working in Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, gave me a unique opportunity to focus and reflect on the mental health problems affecting women. As you know, this institution was primarily meant to train women doctors for our country and thus, caters to a large number of women patients from all strata of society. Contemporary women of our society are at cross-roads in terms of traditionality vs. modernity, dependence vs. autonomy and changing familial and economic roles. An understanding of the impact of gender on psychopathology either from a biological or psycho-social stand point has long been neglected. It is with this background in mind that I have chosen "WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH" as my theme for today's Presidential address.