“I am taking my self-respect back”, said my mother while she walked out of her 27 years of abusive marriage. Throughout these 27 years, she cried for help, demanded justice from family and the judicial system. She was always asked to ‘adjust because men put food on the table’. 

Just a month ago, during one of my field work sessions, I was approached by an 18-year-old girl asking for help to deal with her alcoholic and abusive father. I was moved. She reminded of my younger, helpless self. What troubled me more was that she lives in a joint family and is denied of any help and protection in her own house. 

My mother’s and many other women’s stories made me take a deeper look at the support system in Telangana for women facing domestic abuse. I realized that while we have one stop-Sakhi Centers providing legal, police and shelter assistance, mental health support can be better and stronger. 

The years of COVID-19 Lockdown have seen an increase in rates of domestic violence by twice. It is no co-incidence that suicide rates too have increased during the same period. 

Women facing abuse at home often remain silent about it. After all, it is difficult to talk about the abuse faced at our very own home, behind closed doors. It is very unfortunate that, when women finally break the chain and walk out, their self esteem takes a hit and society looks at them differently. In this vulnerable time, mental health support plays a crucial role in re-building resilience in women.

Join me in asking Women Development & Child Welfare Dept. Telangana, who is overseeing capacity building at these centers to create concrete Mental Health Support Systems by equipping center personnel in Psychological first aid- a first step of help offered to those in emotional distress. 

Sign my petition to build support systems and create safer spaces for women who had the courage to walk out of abusive households and deserve to live with their #SarUpar. 

(Image Courtesy: Global Giving)