Women: Are Their Mental Health Issues Different?

Women and Mental Health

There are so many issues that can impact a woman’s mental health. These concerns include gender stereotyping or assumptions and difficulties related to women’s health. There are other challenges women face that have nothing to do with gender. It is best to avoid assumptions based only on gender, as a person’s identity is multifaceted and any single aspect cannot define a person entirely.

Women may experience environmental, biological, and psychosocial challenges related to gender. These aspects can have a significant impact on their mental health. These issues can be addressed in therapy with the help of mental health professionals.

Understanding women’s issues

Some of women’s mental and physical health issues are related to gender. Several studies have indicated that women are more likely to experience mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety. Women also experience higher rates of mental distress than men. Dr Richard Nakamura, a leading psychologist, says focusing on women’s health is vital. He says, “important biological differences related to hormones and brain structure may affect mental health risks, rates of disorders, and the course of those disorders.”

Until recently, it was widely believed that had larger hippocampus (the part of the brain partially responsible for emotion and memory) than men. This belief partly contributed to stereotypes that women are more emotionally expressive and have a better memory. A 2015 study conducted at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science found that hippocampus in men and women are the same size. Thus, the challenges faced by women may be due to gender-based stereotypes, assumptions, and other causes.

Psychosocial, biological, and environmental aspects may partially contribute to particular mental and physical health concerns. In some cases, these may be impacted by gender. Still, a woman may swiftly develop problems that do not relate to gender. Socio-cultural issues such as gender socialization, domestic violence, lower socioeconomic status may contribute to health disparities. A single mother who has a full-time job, yet finds it difficult to pay her bills is at greater risk for depression, anxiety, and stress. Pressure to be successful both at home and work, coupled with the hurdle of lower pay, is likely to adversely impact mental health.

Mental health care in history

For thousands of years, women have faced disproportionate scrutiny. Words such as crazy, hysterical, and mad have been used for generations, practically stigmatizing and diminishing women’s experiences while facing mental and physical health problems.

In the late 1800s, when psychology was still in its infancy, mental health practice for women was almost non-existent. Many mental health professionals of that time, working with minimal research and limited capabilities, employed controversial treatment methods based on unproven theories. Many of these practices on female clients are considered unethical by today’s standards.

Often described as the “weaker sex,” women were viewed as fragile and more emotional than men. Hysteria, a label used to diagnose any “symptoms” a woman might exhibit, was considered a “disease” experienced exclusively by women. Women who behaved in ways and held beliefs that were not as per prevailing social norms were often diagnosed with hysteria. Doctors used various protocols to treat hysteria and other similar problems.

Psychologists employed “treatments” including involuntary commitment (sometimes for life), sexual interventions, lobotomies, hydrotherapy (using high-pressure hoses), and electroshock therapy.

Women’s issues in mental health care today

Mental health care has dramatically improved, but additional improvements are evidently needed to address more prevalent concerns. Oxford University clinical psychologist Daniel Freeman, who scrutinized 12 large-scale studies that covered the general population worldwide, concluded that women are 20% and 40% more likely than men to develop a mental illness. According to Freeman, “Women tend to view themselves more negatively than men, and that is a vulnerability factor for many mental health problems.”

While research indicates women may be more likely to experience a mental health concern, not all women will necessarily experience a health challenge. Moreover, they may experience psychological or physical health issues in different ways. Some common mental health issues experienced by women are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Postpartum depression
• Postpartum psychosis
• Posttraumatic stress
• Eating disorders
• Borderline personality
• Mood-related challenges
• Self-harming behaviours

Social and cultural issues

It is beneficial for both mental health professionals and those seeking treatment to be aware of the various social and cultural impacts women experience, in addition to the historical background of women’s issues. Traditionally, women are assigned the roles of caretakers and nurturers. In reality, they can be caretakers, providers, nurturers, professionals, and many more roles. Evolving roles and decreased emphasis on gender-based identity have helped challenge these assigned roles. Still, women may often face several socio-cultural challenges that contribute to a greater risk of mental and physical health problems.

Seeking support for mental health

As awareness increases and stigmatization decreases, more women seek and get support for their mental health issues. Now it is possible to access professional care online, too, comfortably and confidentially.

Hope Trust has seen an increasing number of women taking therapy for their concerns, including relationship and parenting issues.

If you want online or in-person professional support, call 90008 50001 for an appointment with one of our therapists.