Women’s Mental Health in Andhra Pradesh Post-COVID: Global Insights and Perspectives

The pandemic has substantially altered the landscape of mental health, disproportionately affecting women (J et al., 2020). Married women, mothers, and socioeconomically vulnerable groups have faced unique burdens. This review examines, COVID 19 relationship between among pre-existing risk factors, such as personality traits, socioeconomic status, and marital dynamics, and depression in married women, with a focal point on the differential results of Long COVID. A comprehensive literature review conducted across multiple databases from 2019 to 2025 identified 36 relevant studies that met the inclusion standards. Those included studies on numerous female populations, pregnant women, pre-K teachers, women with infertility, cancer patients, those with prior depression, adolescents, and divorced women. While this diversity enriches the literature, many of these studies focus on populations other than married women. Sample sizes ranged from small qualitative cohorts to large-scale surveys. Most studies employed validated instruments (EPDS, PHQ-9, and EAT-26), though some qualitative work lacked standardized measures. Findings imply the pandemic has worsened mental health outcomes throughout all organizations, (WHO, 2022), intensifying depression, anxiety, and stress. Susceptible subgroups, particularly pregnant women, faced distinct challenges. In Andhra Pradesh, especially in Vijayawada, suicide rates have risen.   In 2021, Andhra Pradesh recorded 8,067 suicide deaths, marking a 14.5% increase over the 2020 figure of 7,043. The suicide (Senapati RE, 2022)The rate stood at 15.3 per 100,000 population. Of these suicides, a significant number were linked to mental illness (519 cases) and prolonged physical illness (1,779 cases). These figures, while alarming, require contextual interpretation. Suicide rates in Andhra Pradesh exceed the national average of 12 per 100,000, with women, especially those in marital households, bearing a disproportionate share of the burden due to domestic violence, economic stress, and restricted access to care. In terms of disease burden, Andhra Pradesh ranked among the top states in the middle socio-demographic index (SDI) group in terms of loss. (Vidyasagaran et al., 2023) Of healthy life years due to depressive disorders—793 years per 100,000 population, surpassing most other states in its category. A rural mental health survey from West Godavari district revealed that 14.4% of participants had depression, 10.8% had anxiety,(S et al., 2018) And 3.5% reported suicidal ideation. These issues were especially prevalent among women, individuals aged 30–59, the uneducated, and those who were divorced/separated/or widowed. A key finding concerns the temporal variation in mental health crises. (Kattimani et al., 2016), with peak incidents occurring between 6-9 pm, followed by 9-3 pm. Despite this pattern, nighttime mental health support remains inadequate, even though symptoms often worsen during these hours. From a feminist perspective, gender oppression plays a significant role in the depression experienced by married women. This research highlights key gaps in the literature, including the reliance on non-random samples and the absence of validated instruments in a minority of studies.. In Andhra Pradesh. This gap is critical given the documented temporal peaks in crises during vulnerable and nighttime hours. Mental health services must therefore adapt to address the nighttime needs, integrating feminist perspectives and new empirical findings to deliver effective, culturally sensitive support for women. However, the specific contribution of Long COVID-19 to psychological outcomes remains underexplored. Symptoms such as cognitive fatigue, chronic exhaustion, and neurological impairment have been linked to heightened risks of depression and anxiety, particularly among married women.