Type: Resource:

Understanding 'Intersectionality' In Mental Health

"The road to inclusion is an intersection"
A resource written by The Mind Clan.com
Understanding 'Intersectionality' In Mental Health image
What does “Intersectionality” mean? How does it apply to mental health?
New Feature!

Read Hear this resource!

As part of our promise to make mental health accessible, we've launched "Narrations" with this story. You can now scroll through this resource, while hearing our platform read it out to you.

Click on the play button below to get started! 👇

One of our core values at TheMindClan.com is advocating for and holding on to the fact that “mental health is intersectional”.

Before we share what this means, it may help to first understand intersectionality.

What is Intersectionality?

“Intersectionality” is a term that was first coined in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw. It recognizes that each of us possess more than one identity - a combination of various identity markers. Identity markers include our gender, sexuality, religion, age, caste, class, ability/disability, race, ethnicity etc.

These identity markers overlap with each other to create an “intersection” which determines the unique ways in which each of our lives are shaped and the experiences we have.

If we want mental health care services to move towards becoming more inclusive and diverse for all, it can only happen if service providers recognise that mental health is intersectional.

What do we mean when we say, “Mental Health is Intersectional”?

It simply means that our mental health does not exist in isolation from the above identity markers. As stakeholders in the Indian mental health care system, it is our responsibility to acknowledge that our mental health is impacted by our identities of gender, sexuality, caste, class, age, religion, and disability - and the unique life experiences and stressors that accompany them.

For example, queer individuals may go through specific social disadvantages that heterosexual or straight people would not experience.

Dalit Bahujan Adivasi folks experience social and political oppression in ways that Savarna (or “upper caste”) individuals would not.

People living with psychosocial and/or physical disabilities may have unique life experiences of discrimination and stigma that able-bodied people will not experience.

As a result, when we talk about mental health, we have to include these narratives of inequality, discrimination, erasure, and violence that people with marginalized identity markers may experience. These unique and specific stressors impact their emotional and physical health in unique ways too.

Our responsibility does not pause at acknowledging. It also comes with continually unlearning our biases, educating ourselves, turning to the lived experience of these communities, being kind to ourselves if we make mistakes, and holding ourselves accountable for change.

“Existence is Resistance”:

It’s important that we acknowledge here, that our identities are NOT the problem. Our sexuality, gender identity, disability, caste, class, religion, age are never the problem. People are never the problem.

The problem lies in systems of power that marginalize and discriminate against certain identities/communities, while privileging and dominating certain other identities/communities. It is this experience of “othering” that can place the marginalized communities’ mental health in distress.

In closing:

If you experience marginalization, we want to let you know that your existence in itself, is already a resistance to these systems. Your existence warrants celebration. Your experiences of joy, grief, pride, oppression, and everything in between are real, valid, and important to be acknowledged.

At TheMindClan.com, we stand in solidarity with people from all intersections of life - queer, trans*, womyn, DBA folks, neurodiverse folks, people living with disabilities. Many communities are already doing wonderful work in talking about mental health at the intersections of various identity markers. Let’s listen, spark conversations, learn, and unlearn from what they have to share.

You May Also Want To Read

Responding to anxiety | Image

Responding to anxiety

Anxiety is often experienced as a physical reaction in the body. You might notice anxiety in the form of increased heart rate, sweating, needing to pace around a lot, hot flashes or chills, nausea, or shortness of breath.

March 20, 2020 Read More

How To Support Someone Else In Seeking Therapy | Image

How To Support Someone Else In Seeking Therapy

At TheMindClan.com, we are strong advocates for mental health care that breaks away from the cookie-cutter approach. We recognize that mental health care can look different for different people, and everyone’s support systems are very personal.

🔊 Audio Narration Included!

September 17, 2020 Read More

Why You Should Consider Joining a Support Group. | Image

Why You Should Consider Joining a Support Group.

There are multiple ways to take care of our mental health outside of therapy. Joining a support group can be one such way that’s known to be immensely helpful. 🌼

February 22, 2021 Read More

A Short Guide On Trigger Warnings | Image

A Short Guide On Trigger Warnings

What is a trigger warning?

A Trigger warning is a statement that cautions a reader about potentially disturbing or upsetting content. They appear in different ways on different platforms. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram warn their users about triggering images by blurring them out. Most platforms however, do not offer any trigger warning features. This means that the responsibility of informing whether the content could be distressing, falls onto you, the user.

June 1, 2020 Read More

Feeling Your Feelings, And Learning To Process Them | Image

Feeling Your Feelings, And Learning To Process Them

Emotions are an integral part of our human experience. It’s normal, natural and healthy to experience them on a day-to-day basis. Emotions can be a response to what we see, hear, feel, or think. There are many factors that influence our emotions and feelings such as our current moods, thoughts, memories and meaning that we make of events around us.

April 15, 2022 Read More

You already have the skills, intentions, and the know-how to care for your mental health. Learn how we can help you discover them 🙂 Find Counsellors.
Support Groups & Sharing Spaces.
Self Care Events.
Stories & Resources.
Helplines.