March is Women’s History month, which got me thinking about the weight that women have had to carry through the course of history but more specifically today. I see evidence of it most profoundly with the many female clients we see in The Greater Austin YMCA’s Counseling program. Women and mental health are deeply interconnected, as women of every age and demographic often present to therapy riddled with anxiety and feeling pressure to do and be more for their parents, their spouses, their employers, and themselves; as if who they are is insufficient to be worthy of love, contentment, or joy.
When it comes to women and mental health, it is important to take a look at how their emotional health issues differ from those of men. Newer research suggests women are more prone to psychological problems, such as depression, largely due in part to differences in the brains of men and women.
A Closer Look at the Differences Experienced
Depression
One of the most common mental health disorders someone might struggle with is depression. Twice as many women experience depression at some point in their lives when compared to men. Gender, genetic, social, and economic differences all play a role in the development of depression in women.
Major depressive disorder accounts for a significant amount of disability worldwide. Depressive disorders account for more than 40% of disability in women. In men, they account for just under 30% of disability.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another very common mental health issue—one that women are twice as likely to experience as men. Testosterone, which is typically found in higher amounts in men than women, has been found to have antidepressant and antianxiety benefits. Also, women are more likely to seek help for anxiety than men. This may contribute to a higher diagnosis rate in women.
Trauma
The overwhelming majority of individuals who are exposed to violent conflicts, civil wars, displacement from home, and natural disasters are women and children. About 20% of all women will experience rape or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime. This may increase the risk of developing a mental health issue. Women are exposed to higher levels of sexual violence and have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with sexual violence.
PTSD is a very common mental health disorder. When people think of PTSD, they often think of people exposed to combat violence. While this is one factor, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD as men.
PTSD in women can develop following domestic violence issues, sexual abuse, and other traumatic experiences. Women are also more likely to develop serious symptoms as a result of PTSD.
The Greater Austin YMCA trauma treatment support program offers essential resources to help women navigate and heal from these challenging experiences, providing a path toward recovery and emotional wellness.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders impact women much more than men. Eating disorders involve obsessive thoughts and behaviors that are associated with food, body weight, and appearance.
Eating disorders represent a significant mental health issue but can also occur in tandem with other conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders.
The majority of individuals who struggle with anorexia and bulimia are women. More than half of individuals who develop binge eating disorders are women as well. Eating disorders impact both women and girls. According to a study of Massachusetts middle school students, an estimated 6% of girls use disordered weight control behavior monthly, including vomiting and taking laxatives, to control their weight.
While there are no definitive causes, research has shown that genetic, behavioral, psychological, social, and cultural factors all contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Low self-esteem as well as feeling pressure to lose weight are often reported as factors in patients with eating disorders.
Suicide
Women are more likely to attempt suicide, even though men are more likely to die by suicide. Females who report experiencing more severe symptoms of mental disorders in women,were more likely to attempt suicide again after their first attempt. It’s important to note that just because someone may not be successful in a suicide attempt does not mean that they will not continue to struggle with lifelong complications as a result.
Sociocultural Imbalances
The societal pressure and expectations that women cope with regularly can increase the chances of developing mental health issues. This includes society’s greater valuing of women who are more physically attractive, empathetic and nurturing, and intelligent.
To counter, men are regarded to be of higher value if they are more honest, have professional or financial success, and exhibit ambition or strong leadership qualities.
Pressure caused by multiple societal roles and overworking has also been shown to account for poor mental health in women. Women are also more likely to be discriminated against as a consequence of their gender when compared to men. This could increase their chances of developing a mental health issue.
Variations in Health Care
Communication between medical providers and women is often very different from the communication between medical providers and men, particularly in developing countries.
In some countries, communication can often be controlled by the government or other authorities. This can make disclosing emotional and psychological distress more difficult. There may be implicit gender bias, where someone unconsciously assumes certain attitudes about a person or group of people. This can lead to both overtreating and undertreating of women. As a result, it may be even harder for women to receive appropriate care.
By keeping these facts in mind, mental health professionals can best serve the needs of female patients, particularly when it comes to the treatment of severe mental health issues.
What I’m describing is not the necessity to get additional education or training or to gain more experience to ascend at work. We have elementary school age young girls that are tiptoeing through the messy vestiges of their divorcing parents’ marriage while struggling with loyalty conflicts as they negotiate their own relationship with their parents. We have young women in their first adult romantic relationships overwhelmed with anxiety that their partner will leave them as they learn how to set appropriate boundaries. We have moms trying to carve out time for themselves as they deal with childhood trauma, substance use issues, and mid-life physical and emotional changes, and questions surrounding gender identity, while managing a career, kids, and partner relationships. We also have active older women that are working to reinvent themselves in the later stage of their lives while grappling with health issues, the death of a close friend or spouse and crippling anxiety and loneliness.
Of course, men have many of their own things to carry, but the weight of being a woman in our society across the developmental life span is a unique and relentless challenge. Fortunately, the mental health professionals at the YMCA Counseling program are highly trained and available to support women and any person that is struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and a host of other psychological and emotional concerns, helping them prioritize emotional wellness.
One thing I’d love to see more women offer to other women, is a hand – more support, less judgment, and criticism. None of us can outrun the weight of the responsibility and privilege we have of being life givers and the many other hats we wear. Women supporting other women is an important step in helping each other thrive amidst the weight of the expectations placed on us. Seeking mental health services for women can provide essential tools for healing and resilience.
Please stay tuned for information about YMCA Counseling’s upcoming Support Groups.
Kristen Pierce Vreeke, LMFT-S, is the creator of YMCA Counseling, the Greater Austin YMCA’s initiative to make mental health more affordable and accessible.
