Mental health in women: Happy International Women's Day

It's March the 8th, International Women's Day, designed to showcase the achievements of women and lobby against inequalities. I wanted to celebrate women (and girls) and it felt right to post about women's mental health.

Charity Agenda Alliance statistics show that 1 in 5 women experience common mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression (compared to rates of 1 in 8 in men). In addition, women experience more risk factors for the development of mental ill health such as domestic abuse and sexual trauma. Caring and relationship responsibilities also create additional stressors which can affect women's mental health. Finally, hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, postpartum periods, and menopause can affect mood, emotional regulation, and vulnerability to certain mental health conditions.

Common Mental Health Challenges in Women

Some mental health conditions are more commonly diagnosed in women than in men. These include:

• Anxiety disorders – Women are significantly more likely to experience persistent worry, panic attacks, or social anxiety.

  
  

• Depression – Women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience depression at some point in their lives.

  
  

• Postpartum depression – After childbirth, some women experience severe mood changes, exhaustion, and feelings of hopelessness that require support and treatment.

  
  

• Eating disorders – Conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder disproportionately affect women, often linked to body image pressures.

So with this in mind, how can we improve or maybe even prevent mental ill health in women?

It takes a village...

A strong support system comprised of friends, family and community can play a vital role in helping women feel heard, valued, and supported. Isolation makes mental ill health more likely.

Being able to talk openly about mental health struggles can help women and girls cope with mental ill health. Counselling can help explore feelings and experiences around mental ill health whilst other types of therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with negative thought patterns which are contributing to conditions such as anxiety.

Practical ways to take care of your mental health:

Yes, you've probably heard them before but taking small steps consistently can significantly improve mental health and prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Habits particularly important for women are:

• Setting boundaries: to prevent burnout (your counsellor can help you with this).

  
  

• Prioritizing rest and sleep: Especially during times like peri-menopause where hormonal fluctuations and hot flushes at night can disrupt sleep.

  
  

• Staying physically active: Even short walks help regulate hormones and improve cardiovascular health.

  
  

• Know when to seek help: Don't be afraid to ask when you feel out of your depth. Friends, family and professionals such as doctors, psychologists and therapists can be helpful.

If you'd like to know more about how to support your mental health (or you'd like a space to talk), feel free to use the contact form below to get in touch with me.