In case you haven’t heard, March is Women’s History Month in the United States, and March 8th recognizes International Women’s Day! While we take this month to celebrate and honor women throughout history and around the world, it is also an opportunity to bring attention to the unique challenges women face relating to their mental health.

Women are at Greater Risk for Certain Mental Health Issues

According to the World Health Organization, American Psychological Association, and the National Institute of Mental Health, women are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and eating disorders than men.^1–3 The outlook for teenage girls is especially grim. According to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control, teenage girls are experiencing extremely high levels of mental distress, with more than half of female adolescents reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, compared to just 29% of boys.⁴ Women are also at greater risk and display higher prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as about one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, which is way more than men.^5–8 These experiences can be very disabling in terms of social and physical functioning.

Sociocultural and Biological Factors

This disparity may be the result of multiple contributing factors, including sociocultural and biological aspects. More often than men women experience a lack of autonomy and expectations to be physically attractive, empathetic, nurturing, and intelligent.⁹ Overworking and the pressure to fulfill multiple societal roles could also contribute to poor mental health.⁹ Hormonal changes that women experience during their life cycle, including during pregnancy and menopause, also can affect mental health in that they can lead to mood swings and depression.^{1, 2}

What can be Done to Help Women’s Mental Health?

In recent years, to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, many high-profile figures have shared their mental health struggles to start critical conversations and as an inspiration to seek help. A plethora of prominent female celebrities—such as Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Kristen Bell—have spoken out about their own battles, ranging from bipolar disorder to PTSD. In essays, interviews and social media posts, these famous mental health advocates not only share their personal stories but also normalize the idea of seeking help. In an open letter, Lady Gaga addressed her PTSD for her Born This Way Foundation, writing “There is a lot of shame attached to mental illness, but it’s important that you know that there is hope and a chance for recovery.”

Still, despite this heightened awareness and media attention, mental health issues remain on the rise. So, what can we do to provide the critical help to those who desperately need it? Here are some ideas:

1. Raise awareness about mental health: Even if you’re not at Lady Gaga-level fame, you can still make a difference by encouraging open, honest conversations about mental health in your community and network.
2. Address gender-based violence and trauma: Since women are more likely to experience gender-based violence and trauma, addressing and preventing these issues can help reduce the burden on women's mental health. One popular framework developed by the WHO and UN Women is RESPECT women, with RESPECT standing for Relationship skills strengthening; Empowerment of women; Services ensured; Poverty reduced; Enabling environments created; Child and adolescent abuse prevented; and Transformed attitudes, beliefs and norms.⁵
3. Support work-life balance: Women are often expected to balance work and caregiving responsibilities, which can be stressful and lead to burnout.^9,10 Supporting work-life balance through policies such as paid parental leave and flexible work arrangements can help reduce this stress.
4. Promote self-care: Promoting self-care is crucial for women's mental health. Encouraging activities such as exercise, gratitude, and staying connected to friends/family can help women manage stress and improve their overall well-being.¹¹
5. Increase access to mental health care: Finally, women often face barriers to accessing mental health care, such as economic barriers, stigma, and a lack of time.¹² Women are more likely than men to seek mental health services,^{1, 13} but they face unique barriers to accessing care.⁹ For instance, women experience significant difficulty getting time off from work to get treatment, and out of pocket costs limit access to care more commonly among women.¹⁴ Increasing access to affordable, quality mental health care can help women get the support they need.

About Counslr

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References

1. “Gender and Mental Health.” World Health Organization, 2002, https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/68884
2. “New Report on Women and Depression: Latest Research Findings and Recommendations.” American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2002/03/depression-report
3. “Eating Disorders.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders
4. “YRBSS Data Summary & Trends.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/yrbs_data_summary_and_trends.htm
5. “Violence against Women.” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
6. “Facts about Women and Trauma.” American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/women-trauma
7. Olff, Miranda. “Sex and Gender Differences in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Update.” European Journal of Psychotraumatology, vol. 8, no. sup4, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1351204
8. “Statistics.” National Sexual Violence Resource Center, https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics.
9. “Why We Need to Pay Attention to Women's Mental Health.” McLean Hospital, 8 June 2021, https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/why-we-need-pay-attention-womens-mental-health
10. Parmelee, Michele. “Deloitte Brandvoice: Women Continuing to Face Alarmingly High Levels of Burnout, Stress in the ‘New Normal’ of Work.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 8 Nov. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2022/04/26/women-continuing-to-face-alarmingly-high-levels-of-burnout-stress-in-the-new-normal-of-work/?sh=699b7ced432e
11. “Caring for Your Mental Health.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
12. “Mental Health Disparities: Women's Mental Health.” American Psychiatric Association, https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Women.pdf
13. Terlizzi, Emily P, and Tina Norris. “Mental Health Treatment Among Adults: United States, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 July 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db419.htm
14. “Women's Coverage, Access, and Affordability: Key Findings from the 2017 Kaiser Women's Health Survey.” KFF, 19 June 2019, https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/womens-coverage-access-and-affordability-key-findings-from-the-2017-kaiser-womens-health-survey/

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