The Hindu Culture Of Mental Illness

the Hindu culture in rural India, mental illnesses can be viewed many ways (much like in our own culture). But, just because this is rural India, that does not mean that they do not know how to treat people with a mental illness, doctors in this area use what can be viewed as the recovery model, the medical model, and with a little of the family model thrown in. One person’s perspective on what causes a mental illness may be different from another person’s. In one instance, a doctor believes that many of his clients develop a mental illness from un-fulfilled sexual desires, loss of a loved one. Still many people of this culture also believe in witchcraft in which case a curse could be placed on an individual by someone using black magic, to

However, he does state that not all of mental illnesses can be treated with prayer, and that therapy is completely reliant on how severe the illness is, especially if the patient is not very religious, it could make them worse”. Sometimes the use of chains is involved, where the patient is chained to a bed using feelings of hunger, and thirst to persuade the individual into focusing on their thoughts and then they are released. The use of chains is usually implemented from 24 hours to one month, despite this, love and affection are a big part of the recovery practice. But, depending on the patient’s religious beliefs the highlight of the therapeutic process is the mix of religious, philosophical treatment mixed in with rituals can be the cornerstone for treating the patient. Most rural Hindu practitioners will use herbal medicines and the use of oils to help treat patients along with religious therapy, not unlike what we in the United States do, same idea, different method. There is also an idea that material goods can inhibit healing from a mental illness and getting rid of materialized items is encouraged the healing