Community-Based Mental Health Interventions for Elderly Populations in Rural India: A Social Work Perspective

Abstract

The mental health of elderly populations in rural India represents a growing yet underserved public health concern, shaped by demographic transition, the erosion of joint family structures, agricultural distress, and the limited reach of formal mental health services. This article examines community-based mental health interventions for the rural elderly through a social work lens, integrating theoretical perspectives from community-based rehabilitation, the social ecological model, and strengths-based social work practice. Using a critical literature review methodology, the study analyses peer-reviewed scholarship and policy documents published between 2010 and 2025, drawing on Indian and global sources. The analysis identifies four pillars of effective community-based mental health practice for rural elders: structured screening and case identification at the village level; integration with primary health care and frontline workers such as ASHAs, ANMs, and AWWs; intergenerational and peer-led psychosocial support; and family-centred caregiver education. Findings indicate that community-based approaches are well suited to rural Indian contexts because they leverage existing social networks, address stigma collaboratively, and reduce barriers of distance, cost, and specialist scarcity. The article also identifies persistent gaps including weak referral pathways, insufficient training of frontline workers in mental health, gendered access disparities, and limited geriatric specialization within social work curricula. The study concludes that strengthening community-based mental health for the rural elderly requires intersectoral coordination among health, social welfare, and panchayat-level governance, along with deliberate professional preparation of social workers in geriatric mental health. Implications for social work education, policy, and practice are discussed.