This paper focuses on several studies done on mental health problems and poverty based on South Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan. Content analysis is used and articles explore close association between socioeconomic difficulties and depression, between life stresses and depression, the poor are more prone to get mental health problems and no enough resources to cope with them, depression creates economical, individual, and social disabilities, deterioration of assets and family functions, and creativity of family disharmony.

Articles explain majority of the people coming to the primary health care clinics have common mental health problems like depression and anxiety, majority do not discuss with the general practitioners. If general health practitioners are aware of this, they can provide effective treatment and care by themselves without labeling them ‘mental patients’ and can influence welfare programmes to support them.