Mental Health and Informal Sector

Syllabus: GS2/ Health, Management of Social Sector, Government Policies & Interventions, Issues related to development of social sector involving healthcare etc

In Context

• The informal sector segment is often overlooked when it comes to mental health.

Unorganised/Informal sector in India

• Around 80% of India’s labour force is employed in the informal sector and the remaining 20% in the formal sector. 
• Of the 80% informal sector workforce, half work in agriculture and the remaining in non-agricultural sectors.
• Informal workers, despite their significant contribution to national income, are perennially exposed to economic, physical, and, in turn, mental vulnerabilities.

Correlation of Employment & Mental Health

• On one hand, decent work influences mental health in a positive way while on the other, unemployment, or unstable or precarious employment, workplace discrimination, or poor and particularly unsafe working environments, can all pose a risk to a worker’s mental health.
• Workers in low-paid, unrewarding or insecure jobs, or working in isolation, are more likely to be exposed to psychosocial risks, thus compromising their mental health.
• According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), unemployment and poor-quality employment have consistently been detrimental to mental health.