An analysis of 3,675 women in Mumbai’s slums found a strong correlation between cell phone access and improved mental health. The average age of survivors was 35. Nearly 45% of them had experienced domestic abuse and an equal number had experienced intimate partner violence. \”Mobile phones can empower survivors by connecting them to support networks and helplines,\” says Dr Nayreen Daruwalla, director for SNEHA’s programme on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children. The analysis was conducted by the Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), a non-profit working in areas of gender and healthcare. The COVID-19 lockdown created a particularly vulnerable situation for many women trapped in abusive households, says Dr Daru walla, Dr Vandana Singh, coordinator for SNeHA, Dr Singh emphasized the vulnerability of women in slums. \”In informal settlements, most women live in a constant state of worry when it comes to their survival,\” said Dr Singh, adding that due to deprivation and unsanitary conditions, women inslums are already at higher risk for mental health issues.
