abstract

Mental health is a critical yet persistently neglected dimension of women’s health in India, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. Married women face compounded psychosocial stressors arising from marital responsibilities, reproductive health concerns, domestic labour, economic dependency, and restrictive gender norms. These stressors often manifest in anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, and psychosomatic complaints. Within India’s primary healthcare system, the Health Assistant Female [HA(F)], commonly known as the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), serves as the most consistent and accessible health professional for married women. Despite their close and sustained engagement with women, the mental health-promoting role of HA(F)s remains under-examined in empirical research. The present study examines the role of HA(F)s in promoting mental health awareness, emotional support, psychosocial counselling, and referral services among married women in Islampur Block, Uttar Dinajpur District, West Bengal. Employing a descriptive survey method, data were collected from 160 married women and 32 HA(F)s. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, percentage analysis, independent samples t-test, effect size analysis, Pearson’s correlation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. The findings demonstrate that HA(F)s significantly contribute to enhancing mental health awareness and psychological well-being among married women. The study strongly advocates for the institutional integration of mental health training into HA(F) capacity-building programmes.