Women and Mental Health

Mental Health challenges are prevalent in women and men, alike. However, there are certain mental conditions seen more commonly in women, as opposed to men. Women are more likely to suffer from depression, suicide attempts, eating disorders, anxiety/specific phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This could be secondary to biological influences such as hormones, social-cultural influences and behavioral tendencies. Researches at the Women’s Health Research Center at Yale University are looking at biological explanations for specific diseases . An easy to read, brief description of the above is explained in greater detail in the Everyday Health article Common Mental Health Issues in Women.

In addition to mental conditions, women may be treated differently by health care providers. Due to socio-cultural influences, for example, women may feel less comfortable when speaking with doctors and/or doctors may treat women differently. In the May 8, 2023 edition of Woman’s World Magazine, Dr. Balfour offers ways to mitigate biases during a medical encounter.