• Ms. Rachyeta Dhar
• Ms. Ridhima Dhar

This research paper explores the intersection of cultural narratives in literature and their impact on collective mental health and societal attitudes toward psychological disorders. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the study examines how cultural representatives—ranging from folklore and classical works to contemporary fiction—shape, reflect, and reinforce public perceptions of mental health. By analysing key literary texts across different cultures, the research investigates how depictions of psychological disorders either challenge or perpetuate stigma, influencing both individual self-conception and broader social attitudes. The paper also considers how evolving portrayals of mental health in literature can affect the way communities understand and approach psychological well-being, seeking to answer whether these narratives foster empathy and destigmatisation or contribute to fear and marginalization. This research aims to highlight the role of literature in framing societal responses to mental health, revealing the potential of cultural narratives to both harm and heal within the context of collective psychological experience. Through this analysis, the study contributes to the growing discourse on the cultural determinants of mental health and the power of storytelling in shaping psychological and social outcomes.

Mental Health, contemporary fiction, folklore.

"Cultural Narratives and Mental Health: Investigating how cultural representatives in literature affect collective mental health and social attitudes towards psychological disorders", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 12, page no.g717-g724, December-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2412679.pdf

"Cultural Narratives and Mental Health: Investigating how cultural representatives in literature affect collective mental health and social attitudes towards psychological disorders", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 12, page no. ppg717-g724, December-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2412679.pdf