Women's Mental Health

Basics of Mental Health 

Mental health is just as important for you to have and maintain a healthy life. Many suffer from poor mental health and different mental health issues that interrupt their daily activities and way of living. Mental Health not only influences your mind but your physical health as well. Everyone experiences these things differently, and it all depends on the person. Either way, more people than we realize suffer from poor mental health and mental disorders each and every day, and it is time we become more aware.

Mental Health Statistics

1. In the United States, almost half of adults (46.4 percent) will experience a mental illness during their lifetime.

2. 5 percent of adults (18 or older) experience a mental illness in any one year, equivalent to 43.8 million people.

3. Of adults in the United States with any mental disorder in a one-year period, 14.4 percent have one disorder, 5.8 percent have two disorders and 6 percent have three or more.

4. Half of all mental disorders begin by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24.

5. In the United States, only 41 percent of the people who had a mental disorder in the past year received professional health care or other services.

Common Mental Health Disorders:

● Depression

● Anxiety

● Mood disorders

● Bipolar disorder

● Phobias

● Panic disorder

● PTSD

● OCD

● Eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, binge eating)

● Personality disorders

Mental Health & Women

“Good mental health is essential to overall well-being” (OWH).

1 and 5 women in the United States this year experienced a mental health condition.

More specifically, depression and anxiety affect women more than men.

Serious mental health conditions cannot be cured, but can be treated.

Discrimination, trauma, and stress are three leading causes of developing a mental health disorder.

Mental illness has become so common doctors are quick to diagnose someone with a disorder, and prescribe medication that may or may not actually be needed.

Hormones and menstruation cycles can influence mental health in negative ways.

“For a small percentage of menstruating women – 3-8% – the sensitivity to the hormonal fluxes of their monthly cycle is so great that the effects on their emotional and mental health is severe” (JeanHailes, 2019).

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) can cause women to experience bloating, headaches, and moodiness. Women who have pre existing disorders (depression or anxiety), can have worse symptoms. (OWH)

PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) causes worse symptoms that can include depression, irritability, and tension. (OWH)

Mental health issues can actually affect how your period regulates and how long cycles last. This alone can cause more stress and make emotions worsen/become heightened.

Changes in mood and hormones can affect a woman's quality of life, and have indefinite consequences.

Having a good balance of hormones also improves your overall health and a lack of balance can interrupt this.

Everything around us--friends, family, work, society--play a part in how our body reacts to certain things.

Socio-Cultural Perspective

Health related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, work, and where you live are all factors that can affect mental health.

Poor social support links directly to the “increase in depression, suicide, alcohol use, cardiovascular disease, and altered brain function” (Cherry, 2020).

Societal expectations have a major influence: - In society women are not “expected” to be as strong as men, and are usually not the ones to suppress their feelings.

“Significant health inequalities persist among and within minority groups” (MHA).

There is a stigma around men and mental health, and this leads to a lack of treatment given to the men who need it.

Women are more likely to express their emotions and mental health needs, whereas men do not.

“This model of masculinity may be why men are more likely to underreport symptoms of depression” (Campbell, 2019).

Men who reach out for help are considered “weak” and “less of a man” in the eyes of society. Society’s expectations of men differ greatly from women, and this could be the reason more women are diagnosed with a mental health issue.

Behavioral Perspective

Trauma is most common among women where “half of all women experience some form of trauma in their life” (Young, 2015).

Trauma can cause PTSD and lead to depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.

Women who experience trauma are at a greater risk of having poor mental health.

Discrimination can also cause women to develop a mental health issue/disorder.

“Women also report having to work harder to get the same credit as men” (Young, 2015).

Historical Perspective

Historically women have struggled in the mental health department. Before the 1980s “women struggling with mental illness were accused of witchcraft” (Strickler, 2017). It is hard to break hysteria and stigmas, and it wasn’t until 1980 that hysteria was removed from the DSM (Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). They were blamed for a lot of different things causing their mental health issues (such as hormones), instead of digging deeper into what the real problem was. Women were judged when trying to get help for their mental disorder, and they are still judged today.

Economic Perspective

Mental health comes with a great cost, and many drugs/medications/treatments cause great financial burdens.

Insurance companies can’t always cover what the patient needs.

“Many people can’t afford treatment due to inadequate insurance coverage and others — especially those in rural areas — often have to wait months to see a provider, if there’s even one available” (Kennedy, et al., 2019).

Aside from being able to afford the medications, many who suffer from a mental illness are less likely to be in work. The less people work, the higher unemployment rises and this can hurt the economy.

References:

Anon. 2013. “Gender and Women's Mental Health.” World Health Organization. Retrieved April 25, 2020 (https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/).

Anon. 2019. “How Hormones Impact Mental Health.” Jean Hailes. Retrieved April 20, 2020 (https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/how-hormones-impact-mental-health).

Anon. 2019. “Mental Health and Women.” Womenshealth.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2020 (https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health).

Anon. n.d. “Social Determinants of Health.” Mental Health America. Retrieved April 22, 2020 (https://www.mhanational.org/social-determinants-health).

Anon. n.d. “Statistics.” National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved April 24, 2020 (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/index.shtml).

Campbell, Leah. 2019. “Why Many Men Have a Harder Time Seeking Treatment for Mental Illness.” Healthline. Retrieved (https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-can-we-reduce-mens-mental-health-stigma). Jumer, Hannah and Hannah Jumer. 2019. “The History of Women's Mental Health.” Study Breaks. Retrieved April 24, 2020 (https://studybreaks.com/thoughts/history-of-womens-mental-health/).

Kapil, Rubina. 2019. “5 Surprising Mental Health Statistics.” Mental Health First Aid. Retrieved April 23, 2020 (https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/02/5-surprising-mental-health-statistics/).

Kennedy, Patrick J. et al. 2019. “2020 Candidates Weigh in on Our Country's Mental Health, Addiction Crises.” STAT. Retrieved April 26, 2020 (https://www.statnews.com/2019/09/12/presidential-candidates-weigh-in-mental-health-addiction-crises/).

Kvarnstrom, Elisabet. 2018. “Gender Trouble: Social Expectations As A Barrier To Mental Health Treatment for Men.” Bridges to Recovery. Retrieved April 25, 2020 (https://www.bridgestorecovery.... en/).