Mental Health Research in India: Challenges and Practical Considerations

·         This book addresses the underexplored area of challenges in mental health research in the Indian context by presenting the unique experiences encountered by researchers. This discussion is expected to contribute towards broadening the global perspective on research mental health and illness. Despite being well versed in traditional research methodology topics, researchers often find themselves unprepared for unexpected situations faced in their journey. These include challenges ranging from acquiring ethical approval, developing research designs, and working with vulnerable participants such as those who have lived through loss, trauma, and other mental health challenges. This book offers the experiences and recommendations of researchers who have navigated these challenges successfully, for the benefit of an academic audience. It is expected that these research narratives will contribute towards preparing researchers for the challenges they may encounter in their field work. Overall, this book aims to bridge the gap between textbook information and experiences from fieldwork. We further hope to build awareness and solutions in this area through this attempt. This book also addresses culture specific issues in the research process, ultimately enriching the global discourse on mental health research and practices. This book appeals to a wide readership, including psychiatrists, psychologists, sociologists, health policymakers, social workers, health economists, anthropologists, and philosophers, fostering a multidisciplinary and comprehensive understanding of mental health research worldwide and inspiring future initiatives.