To gather is to heal: Women's mental health circles in rural Chiapas, Mexico.

A pilot mental health group intervention called Women's Circles, led by community mental health workers in rural Chiapas, improved participants' moods primarily through gathering with others and having someone to talk to. However, the sessions also imposed globalized views of mental health and gender through prescriptive lessons, limiting reflection on personal experiences. The study describes both the positive impact on mental well-being and the problematic aspects of spreading psychoeducation in this context.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In the rural villages of the Sierra Madre region of Chiapas, women experiencing hardship show signs of emotional distress that are diagnosed as depression and anxiety by health professionals. In this study, we critically analyze the impact of a pilot mental health group intervention (Women's Circles) facilitated by community mental health workers. The intervention consisted of eight structured sessions that included psychoeducation from a gender perspective, mindfulness exercises, interactive activities, arts and crafts, and sharing personal experiences. We carried out participant observation and 27 semi-structured interviews with the participants. The main outcomes were, first, that participants' moods improved, and second, that the improvement was mainly due to gathering with others and having someone to talk to. In addition, we observed that lessons during the Circles were often prescriptive, which, rather than creating a space for reflection on personal experiences, imposed globalized views of mental health and gender. In sum, we describe both the positive impact this program had on mental well-being and the problematic spreading of psychoeducation.