Mental health as a whole is a largely discussed topic at this current moment in time. We have come a long way in how we view mental health and its importance. More and more, we as a society have a better grasp on what mental health is, what mental illnesses and disorders look like, and how to treat them properly. So often, we look at the bigger picture, and we lose sight of the gender differences when it comes to mental health. Why should women’s mental health be discussed separately? What makes women’s mental health different from mental health in general? In what ways does society miss the mark when it comes to the treatment of women’s mental health?
Women make up roughly half of the world’s population, and slightly over half of the population of the United States. Of the population of women in the United States, one in five experience a mental disorder. While there is definitely greater understanding of mental illness and how it affects the mind and body as a whole, there are factors that either solely impact women, or more greatly affect them than men. Women’s differences in biology, such as hormonal shifts during pregnancy, menopause, or menstrual cycles, create an entirely different set of challenges for their mental health. Sociocultural factors have a large effect on the mental health of women. Societal expectations, traditional gender roles, discrimination, and sexism are all incredibly strong influences that can create unique issues for women to grapple with. Further, we see women’s mental health affected by subfactors we may not consider such as work stress, familial relationships, chronic illness, and economic and financial stress. While not an exhaustive list of factors, this gives us more to consider when delving into what affects women on the daily.
In consideration of these factors, what can be done to make a difference in the treatment and promotion of women’s mental health? Increasingly, we are already seeing resources being created specifically with women in mind. Government agencies, authors, influencers, medical professionals, and religious institutions are advocating for women through the creation of programs, books, podcasts, blogs, magazines, and social media content. There is still a long way to go in giving women’s mental health the proper amount of attention and advocacy, but we are fortunate to live in a time where the agenda continues to be pushed that women’s mental health matters.
Storrie Denton, LPC-A
Seeking counseling can be incredibly daunting because of the level of vulnerability one has to display. My ultimate goal with each client is to make the counseling setting a place of comfort and safety, so that we can work effectively toward reaching goals and achieving true and lasting healing.
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