A culturally grounded mental health response to intimate partner violence among tribal women in Wayanad, Kerala: a case study

Purpose This case study aims to develop a culturally grounded mental health intervention for tribal women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Wayanad, Kerala. It responds to the urgent need for trauma-informed mental health services that resonate with the cultural identities, worldviews and healing traditions of indigenous communities. Design/methodology/approach The intervention was developed through a mixed-methods doctoral research project grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and psychodynamic principles. Data were collected via qualitative interviews with tribal women survivors (n = 25), quantitative mental health screening and participatory engagement with traditional healers, local leader and Self-Help Group (SHG) facilitators. Thematic analysis and iterative community consultations shaped the design of the intervention. Findings The resulting intervention integrates healing circles, folklore-based psychoeducation, engagement with traditional leaders and SHG-based empowerment. These components reflect indigenous practices, spiritual worldviews and collective resilience strategies. Participants reported increased emotional safety, cultural validation and a sense of solidarity and empowerment. Research limitations/implications The intervention is deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual frameworks of Wayanad’s tribal communities. This context-specific design may limit the generalizability of the model to other indigenous groups with differing belief systems, social structures or ritual practices. Some biomedical professionals and institutional stakeholders may resist integrating traditional practices due to concerns about scientific validity or standardization. Negotiating these tensions requires ongoing dialogue and institutional buy-in. Differences in cultural practices, taboos and language even within Wayanad’s tribal groups (e.g. Paniya vs Kurumba) can affect the uniformity of intervention delivery and reception. Practical implications The model can inform mental health practitioners and NGOs working in indigenous or marginalized contexts by offering a flexible, community-rooted intervention framework adaptable across tribal regions. Social implications By legitimizing indigenous knowledge and promoting collective healing, the intervention strengthens social cohesion, reduces stigma around IPV and empowers tribal women to reclaim agency within their communities. Originality/value This is one of the few interventions in India that explicitly centers tribal worldviews in mental health care for IPV survivors. It demonstrates how formal psychological models can be meaningfully adapted through cultural co-creation.