Article Details
  • Published Online:
    July  2025
  • Product Name:
    The IUP Journal of Law Review
  • Product Type:
    Article
  • Product Code:
    IUPLR080725
  • DOI:
    10.71329/IUPLR/2025.15.3.106-116
  • Author Name:
    Shivani Bhandari and Ashish Kumar Singhal
  • Availability:
    YES
  • Subject/Domain:
    Law
  • Download Format:
    PDF
  • Pages:
    106-116
Volume 15, Issue 3, July-September 2025
Mental Health and Women’s Rights at the Workplace: A Legal and Policy Perspective
Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of law, gender, and mental health for working women in India. Mental health is an integral part of the right to health under Article 21 (right to life) of the Indian Constitution, and must be protected accordingly. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the paper reviews the legal frameworks—including the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 and international treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and workplace laws against discrimination and harassment alongside workplace dynamics (gender bias, harassment, work–life imbalance, stress) and societal barriers (patriarchy, stigma). It also examines the case laws and Indian legislation in this regard. The paper calls for empowering women to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing and effective implementation of legal protection guaranteed to women by the constitution and laws

Introduction

Mental health is a critical dimension of overall health and wellbeing, yet it often receives inadequate attention in both legal discourse and social policy. In India, women face unique mental health challenges in the workplace due to the intersecting factors of gender bias, social expectations, and occupational stress.