title: Human rights violations among economically disadvantaged women with mental illness: An Indian perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globally women confront manifold violations of human rights and women with poverty and mental illness are doubly disadvantaged.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to examine the influence of poverty in meeting human rights needs among recovered women with mental illness at family and community level.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive study carried out among randomly selected (n = 100) recovered women with mental illness at a tertiary care center. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using structured needs assessment questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings revealed that below poverty line (BPL) participants were not satisfied in meeting their physical needs such as "access to safe drinking water" (χ(2) = 8.994, P < 0.02), "served in the same utensils" (χ(2) = 13.648, P < 0.00), had adequate food (χ(2) = 11.025, P < 0.02), and allowed to use toilet facilities (χ(2) = 13.565, P < 0.00). The human rights needs in emotional dimension, that is, afraid of family members (χ(2) = 8.233, P < 0.04) and hurt by bad words (χ(2) = 9.014, P < 0.02) were rated higher in above poverty line (APL) participants. Similarly, 88.9% of women from APL group expressed that they were discriminated and exploited by the community members (χ(2) = 17.490, P < 0.00). More than three-fourths of BPL participants (76.1%) believed that there were wondering homeless mentally ill in their community (χ(2) = 11.848, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an urgent need to implement social welfare programs to provide employment opportunities, disability allowance, housing and other social security for women with mental illness. Further, mental health professionals play an essential role in educating the family and public regarding human rights of people with mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Institute of National Importance), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vijayalakshmi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poreddi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.lastname: Ramachandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vydehi Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thimmaiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Suresh Bada
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Math
keywords: Human rights; mental illness; needs assessment; poverty; women