Based on a case study in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, this article examines women’s vulnerability to the June 2013 floods in constructing mental health outcomes. By means of qualitative research and diverse vulnerability approaches such as entitlement, livelihood and political economy, the study draws attention to the initial well-being, livelihood resilience, self-protection, societal protection and social capital of women and underlines how their lack of capacity to avoid, cope with and recover from disasters increased mental health exposure to risk. To this point, women’s vulnerability and mental disorders are reciprocally related to each other. In conclusion, while physical exposure to the flood was a necessary element, it was women’s pre-existing symptoms and developmental processes that were most influential in generating mental health consequences after the disaster.
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