Text box 1. Summary box
What is already known on this topic?
• It has been suggested that mental health has two dimensions: psychological distress (corresponding with mental illness) and mental wellbeing (corresponding with feeling good and functioning well). There is some supportive evidence for this idea, although little from the global South.
What this study adds
• The study is the first to use question scales to ask women in informal settlements in India about their mental wellbeing, depression and anxiety. Almost a quarter of women reported symptoms suggesting low mental wellbeing, depression or anxiety. Substantial numbers reported low mental wellbeing in the absence of psychological distress, and some felt good and functioned well in the presence of psychological distress.
How this study might affect research, practice or policy
• Understanding of the dimensions of mental health in informal settlements in which people are exposed to multiple stressors is limited. The idea of two continua of mental health merits study, particularly in terms of its implications for services. The finding that some women are able to maintain a sense of mental wellbeing despite psychological distress has implications for research on coping abilities.