“Social Psychiatry in South Asia is a significant, meticulously curated work that addresses a considerable gap in the regional mental health literature. Its primary advantages include regional diversity, incorporation of social science viewpoints, and a practical emphasis on service models and policy ramifications. The collection should be viewed as a carefully chosen compendium, full of context and useful insights, rather than a standardized empirical compilation.” (Rizwana Amin, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, December 20, 2025)
This book focuses on the impact of social dimensions on the mental health of people living in the eight South Asian countries. The biopsychosocial approach has been well accepted and considered while formulating the risk factors and treatment strategy for mental disorders. It indicates the importance of social structure and social influence on mental health, psychiatric disorders, and treatment. The social determinants of mental health including social networks, culture, norms, socio-economic conditions, and healthcare systems in South Asia vary remarkably from the West. Also, societal changes under Western influence are noticeable in several sections leading to a change in the way people cope with adversities. Additionally, the political and economic instability in several countries poses additional challenges to mental health. The impact of social structure in South Asia on psychiatric disorders and vice-versa has not been adequately addressed yet, so this book seeks to address that. The book also takes a look at various new, state-run, social initiatives to advance mental health and manage mental illnesses.
About the Author
Dr. S M Yasir Arafat is currently working as an associate consultant of Psychiatry at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is affiliated with Dnet as an honorary research fellow and Biomedical Research Foundation, Bangladesh as a senior research fellow. He was affiliated with the University of Bristol, UK, as a visiting senior research associate, (August 2021–2023). He completed M.D. in Psychiatry from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, and MBBS from the Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He also did an MPH in Health Economics and MBA in Marketing. Dr. Arafat has (co)authored more than 350 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and (co)edited several books with Springer. He has been included in the global 2% researcher list in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He is acting as an editorial member in more than ten leading journals in mental health published by Elsevier, Frontiers, Wiley, Springer, and Taylor and Francis.
Dr. Amit Singh is currently working as an assistant professor of Psychiatry at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is the deputy editor of the Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry. He is MD in Psychiatry and has specialization (DM) in Addiction Psychiatry. He has (co)authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His research interests include addiction and cultural psychiatry.
Dr. Sujita Kumar Kar is currently working as an additional professor of Psychiatry at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is the editor-in-chief of Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality, and Culture. He is also the editorial board member and reviewer of various national and international journals. He had written 62 book chapters and more than 450 articles in various national and international journals and made 70 presentations at various national and international conferences. He has been included in the global 2% researcher list released by Stanford University in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. His research interests include brain stimulation, neuropsychiatry, and suicide prevention.
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