Women Mental Health

Some disorders are more common in women such as depression and anxiety. There are also certain types of depression that are unique to women. Some women may experience symptoms of mental disorders at times of hormonal change, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression and perimenopause-related depression.

When it comes to other mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, research has not found differences in rates that men and women experience these illnesses. But, women may experience these illnesses differently – certain symptoms may be more common in women than in men, and the course of the illness can be affected by the sex of the individual.

However busy they are, it is important that women look after their mental health. Traditionally, women have tended to take on the responsibility of looking after the health of members of their family as well as themselves. Women care givers are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression than women in the general population.

Three quarters of people who care for a person with a mental health problem are women and the average age of care givers is 62 years. Women’s friendship with other women helps protect their mental health, providing a source of support, particularly in hard times or at times of loss or change.

Mentally healthy women generally talk about their feelings more than men and more often have stronger social networks of friends and family. Two thirds of people with dementia are women. Risk of dementia increases with age, and women have a higher life expectancy than men.