Sociological and psychological approaches to mental health are fundamentally different. While psychological and biological perspectives focus on personal characteristics and brain features, sociologists emphasize the impact of social conditions on mental health and psychiatric disorders. The distinct emphasis of sociological approaches is on how processes such as life, social conditions, social roles, social structures, and cultural beliefs influence individuals’ mental states and well-being. In other words, what shapes individuals’ mental health is not just their personality or brain neurons, but also the social conditions they are exposed to, which vary in different social groups, societies, and historical periods.

Some of these important social impacts include stressful life events that individuals face. These events can cause mental decline in certain periods of a person’s life. These events include divorce, job loss, severe illnesses of oneself or loved ones, losing people who are close and dear to them, violence, natural disasters, war, the threat and fear of war, and sexual and physical abuse during childhood. These are among the factors that have significant psychological consequences, and the more frequent and heavier the burden of these events, the greater the vulnerability of mental health.

Some other social reasons that cause psychological damage are not the factors mentioned above, but rather are present in the daily lives of individuals. It does not appear suddenly at a specific time, but has its roots in the continuous and daily lives of individuals. For example, people who live in environments with high rates of poverty, instability, insecurity, crime, broken homes, and broken families are likely to have a high level of psychological distress (Ross, 2000). Stressful marriages, ongoing family violence, oppressive work conditions, discrimination, lack of basic freedoms in closed societies, and unreasonable parents with unhealthy values are other stable conditions that daily drain the zest for life from individuals and lead to psychological exhaustion. These conditions do not depend on the biological and psychological characteristics of individuals, and some sociologists believe that the cost of psychological damage can be more severe than biological and psychological factors.

Some of the factors that contribute to individuals responding to emotional and mental problems in different ways include social characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, age, and education. Other aspects in response to mental health issues are related to cultural values surrounding mental disorders and illnesses. For example, there is a significant difference between societies where the culture stigmatizes individuals with mental disorders and societies where mental health of individuals is a priority and those who are ill receive group support and have access to social conditions where the availability, quality, type, and level of mental health care is given special attention.

According to the sociology of mental health, the likelihood of a psychological illness depends on which social group individuals belong to, what historical period they live in, what communities they are a part of, what cultural values they possess, and what emotional attachment they have towards their social and group identity.

Furthermore, sociologists and their research in the field of mental health emphasize that mental disorders are influenced by several factors including the level of social integration, social inequalities, and group beliefs and attitudes.

Emile Durkheim and his book “Suicide” are considered the first comprehensive study of mental health in sociology (Durkheim 1897-1951). He believed that the nature of people’s relationships with each other and with social institutions shapes their likelihood of committing suicide.

Emile Durkheim’s research emphasized that isolated individuals are more likely to commit suicide than those with social relationships, unmarried individuals are more likely than married individuals, and individuals without children are more likely than those with children to take their own lives because they have less social integration. His studies and research focused on European countries also showed that a smaller number of individuals during times of war and revolutions commit suicide due to the strong social experiences and common bonds among individuals, and a sense of social belonging and integration.

In addition to integration and social attachment, social classes that encompass interactions and power dynamics based on social status and economic resources have a significant impact on mental health.

Economic poverty not only includes economic deprivation, but also encompasses unfavorable and unsatisfactory working conditions, and the feeling of being invested in. It is worth mentioning that economic poverty is not an absolute concept, but rather “relative”, and in comparison to other individuals in the social group, it affects the individual’s feelings and mental health. For example, an athlete who also has a high income may experience a psychological decline if they feel that they are not achieving the desired economic success compared to other members of the team. On the other hand, a person from a lower-income family who feels that they have more privileges compared to other individuals in the social group may have better mental health.

The third comprehensive indicator of sociological health is alongside social integration and social classes, cultural values that give meaning to individual life. Belonging to social groups with specific and achievable goals can have positive effects on individuals’ mental health. This concept applies to both social groups and dominant culture and collective beliefs in society. In terms of social groups, just as achievable goals can strengthen individuals’ mental health, if the culture of the group or the culture in society creates expectations that individuals cannot fulfill, it can lead to disappointment and psychological disorders such as frustration and depression. For example, in American culture, it is traditionally believed that all individuals, regardless of their social background, can achieve high social and economic success (Merton, 1938-1968). This belief exists in the historical cultural context of this society. In such discourse, those who cannot achieve their goals and are limited by structural discrimination are blamed for not being able to achieve social and economic success, rather than the culture and discourse that has

In general, cultural values that promote group cohesion and give meaning to individuals’ lives are important for mental well-being. These values are not biological or psychological characteristics, but rather social attributes.

Mental and physical health.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the power structure of gender and the economy of human societies. On one hand, societies relied on women to be at the forefront of the fight against this epidemic. On the other hand, structural inequalities were highlighted in various areas such as health, economy, security, and social support. In critical moments of history, when resources are scarce and the power of structures is limited, women and girls are pushed to the margins and the burden of these processes falls heavily on them, putting at risk the rights and achievements that women have fought for. In such widespread crises like COVID-19, not only must solutions be found for the suffering, but social efforts must also be made to create futures in which societies are more resilient and protect the rights and social and economic conditions of women and other marginalized groups.

During the past 18 months, not only has violence against women increased, but the burden of economic recession has also fallen heavily on women. In addition, women’s mental health has also suffered greatly. The COVID-19 pandemic has tripled the likelihood of worsening women’s mental health, with 27% of women reporting increased mental health problems. This is in contrast to only 10% of men. 55% of women globally and 34% of men are concerned about income loss and an uncertain economic future. The decline in women’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the dimensions and processes of this crisis that has not been fully reflected.

On a global level, women are more affected by mental disorders than men. In addition to biological factors, women’s experiences from puberty and adolescence to sexual development, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum, and menopause, all of which can have an impact on their mental health from a biological perspective. The medical field has taken significant steps in understanding and addressing these effects, as well as the social and cultural factors and the sociological perspective of mental health. There are various reasons for women’s vulnerability, including social factors, cultural factors, and sociological factors. Therefore, the higher rates of depression among women worldwide are not solely due to biological reasons, but also due to patriarchal power dynamics, gender discrimination, the subordinate position of women in society, and violence against women, all of which contribute to their vulnerability to mental health issues.

Although many men from gender minorities suffer from higher levels of stress and nervous pressure due to economic downturns in the class system and social, ethnic, religious, and age discrimination, their vulnerabilities are much less visible than those of women.

Sociology of mental health in regards to women emphasizes the following as underlying factors that make women more vulnerable than men:

1. The power dynamics of a father’s authority._

Social science research emphasizes that gender gap is one of the influential factors on women’s mental health.

2. Economic poverty is another area of vulnerability for women’s mental health. Poverty causes concern about the uncertainty of the future, lack of access to health care, including mental health, unstable jobs, difficult employment conditions, and inadequate and insufficient wages, all of which are challenges of economic poverty that have an impact on women’s mental health.

3. Lack of economic participation and employment._

Lack of economic independence for women leads to a decrease in self-esteem, a sense of lack of control and will towards life, economic dependence in marital relationships, and unhealthy conditions for non-working women. Along with undervaluing the role of women and household work as a part of gross national production, which is only seen as consumption rather than exchange.

Although unemployment has its own difficulties, working women in many countries, especially those with high gender gaps in social and cultural aspects and where women do not have access to social support, are also facing mental health issues. These include working in public spaces alongside gender-based division of labor in private spaces, responsibility for caring for children and elderly family members, and caring for sick family members (which has become particularly prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic). Women who carry various layers of oppression, such as women who are the head of the household, women who are forced to work multiple jobs, women from ethnic, sexual, and religious minorities, and elderly women, can be more susceptible to mental health disorders.

4. Sexual harassment, violence in both private and public spheres are important factors in women’s psychological damage. Women who suffer from depression due to these reasons often experience other psychological damages such as anxiety, eating disorders, overeating or substance abuse and alcohol consumption.

Social stigma surrounding mental illness, although present in many traditional societies, is even heavier for women alongside gender discrimination.

Women in Iran and mental health in Iran.

The discourse of mental health, especially in regards to women, is one of the discourses that has not taken significant positive steps in the past 42 years alongside other societies. The intensification of class conflicts, wide gender gap, and the heavy shadow of conservatism towards strengthening traditional components in the roles of women in society, economic participation, and gender division of labor have posed serious challenges to the mental health of women in society. The government has not fulfilled its commitments to the mental health of society, especially women, and there are serious concerns about the effects on the family. An article in the 2018 issue of the World Economy magazine states that 12.5 million Iranians suffer from at least one mental disorder and the prevalence of mental disorders in the country is reported to be 23.6%, including the age group of 15 to 64 years old. In Iran, there is one psychiatrist for every 45,000 people, while in developed countries, an average of 10%

Single and educated women have suffered from more discrimination in the field of employment compared to other women. There are no protective laws regarding violence against women in both private and public spheres, or the existing laws are not effectively enforced, such as the minimum age for marriage, which violates children’s rights in Iran. The media in Iran have numerous examples of discussions on why the government allows marriages of girls under 13 years old.

Suicide has increased by 5% every year in Iran, and only in 1397, 100,000 cases of suicide were officially registered in Iran. Suicide among girls, especially young girls, is often under the age of 18, and in 1399 we witnessed suicides under the age of 15. The trend of decreasing the age of suicide in Iran is a very concerning and alarming trend.

From a sociological perspective of mental health, hopelessness towards the future is considered one of the most important psychological pressures, and the reasons for suicide are more rooted in the dysfunctional political and social structure in Iran rather than individual decision-making or mental state. Women’s self-immolation, especially in border areas such as Kurdistan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan, is not a desire for death, but a cry for help and attention to their problems. There are also numerous cases of so-called “honor killings” that are actually suicides disguised as death by ingesting rice pills. Whether women’s self-immolation is an act of protest, like the suicide of Homa Darabi, or not, it is a class and gender issue.

Since unemployment is one of the vulnerable areas for mental health, it is necessary to remember that the percentage of women’s employment decline in Iran from autumn 1398 to autumn 1399, meaning during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, was 14 times higher than men, and one out of every six employed women has lost their job.

This decline encompasses the reality that employed women in the informal sector of the economy and seasonal and part-time jobs have been hit hard by the pandemic in sectors such as nursing homes, childcare centers, schools, food production, and services, etc.

It is predicted by the International Monetary Fund that the unemployment rate in Iran will reach 19.4% by 2024.

At the end, the mental health of society, especially the mental health of women, is of special importance, which unfortunately has not been a priority in the budgets and policies of various governments in the past decades. Along with other challenges, economic and social discrimination has placed Iran at 118th out of 153 countries in the global “happiness” index in 2021. The happiest countries are those with the lowest gender gap, and the top three happiest countries are Finland, Denmark, and Switzerland.

“Let us break open the sky and create a new design.”