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Background: Common mental disorders, especially depression, are likely to increase as a result of globalization and industrialization and it is likely that the resultant burden of care will increase proportionately. Women have a higher prevalence of depression and also carry the burden of caring for the affected individuals. Aim: To study the psychological symptoms with possible common mental disorders in a primary care setting. Methods: One hundred two women of Tamil ethnicity were approached to take part in answering the Self­Report Questionnaire (SRQ). The mean age of cases and non-cases were 39 years and 33 years, respectively. Results: Nearly three-fifths scored above the cut-off point. Age, physical illness and chronic pain were found to be important factors in the genesis of depression in particular. Conclusion: These findings have major implications for any preventative or intervention strategies.