Women Garment Workers’ Mental Health & Wellbeing

Women Win is excited to share new research on “Understanding Drivers and Prohibitors of Women Garment Workers Mental Health and Wellbeing” in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. This study was funded by lululemon and conducted in collaboration with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). The research intentionally employed a participatory approach by engaging local women garment workers, women’s rights organisations, mental health experts, and researchers in each of the three countries to elicit contextual knowledge and grounded realities about:
  • Unique aspects of mental health, beyond general well-being, with a focus on women garment workers
  • What constitutes positive mental health and wellbeing for women garment workers, and
  • Key determinants of mental health and wellbeing in the garment factory setting, according to women workers.

This research brief is intended for brands, suppliers and industry partners that want to understand more about the state of women’s mental health and wellbeing in Asia’s garment industry. The work contributes to the existing knowledge base that looks at worker mental wellbeing beyond basic wellbeing. It also provides a unique insight into this space centering women’s voices while using a newly developed ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing Key Indicators Framework’.

Our hope with this brief is to elevate the conversation on the critical nature of worker mental health and wellbeing among brands, suppliers, and other industry partners. If you are interested in joining this conversation, please reach out to us directly to get involved.