Public health perspectives on mental health: Reflections from teaching

Abstract

The mental health discourse in India has been primarily viewed through a biomedical lens that often overlooks the cultural context and social inequalities. To ensure equitable access to preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative mental healthcare, India needs practitioners who combine a social perspective with an empathetic approach. To address this need, we designed a course titled "Critical Perspectives on Mental Health" that aims to introduce the relevant perspectives and community­based approaches to mental health. In this article, we share our reflections on designing this course and facilitating it in the form of a post­graduation programme.