Perinatal depression, perinatal mental health, and legal interventions: a medico-legal anthropological concept

Perinatal depression (PND), and perinatal mental health (PMH) are regarded as an underestimated public health concern. A doctoral study was undertaken to analyze the efficacy of existing health laws and policies in India in addressing and managing PND, and the implications of non-recognition of PND as a public health issue. The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study involved four disciplines: Psychiatry, Medical Anthropology, Public Health Law, and International Human Rights Law. The study highlighted the need for synergistic assimilation of knowledge from the four disciplines to read mental health, PND, and PMH. The study novelly emphasized the need to read PND as a 'medico-legal anthropological' concept, which manifests medically, results largely, and is strongly influenced by psychosocial factors, making it imperative to recognize perinatal women as a vulnerable population and safeguard their human rights. This approach will facilitate assessments about interventions for addressing and/or managing PND when policy-making/policy reforms regarding PND are in progress.