Women and mental health are connected by biological, social, and psychological factors. Different conditions affect the mental health of women in different ways. It is thus important to understand women's mental health issues for their overall well-being, treatment, and support.
In the following sections, we take a deep dive into women and mental illness, what specific challenges women face, the factors that cause mental health problems, and how Jagruti Rehab can help give specialised care to women-centric mental health issues.
What Affects Women’s Mental Health?
The mental health of a woman is influenced and impacted by a number of factors. Knowing and understanding these well can help women take care of their mental health and overall wellness. Let's understand the factors in detail:
1. Biological Factors
Women go through hormonal changes throughout life, particularly during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. These shifts can make conditions such as depression and anxiety more likely or more intense. Research suggests that changes in ovarian hormone levels, especially drops in oestrogen, may contribute to the higher rates of depression and anxiety seen in women. [1]
2. Social and Cultural Expectations
Society has set roles for women, which creates expectations for them. Women are often expected to be caregivers, nurturers, and providers. The inability to fulfil these roles ideally while balancing work and family can cause stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue. Societal pressure can first cause insecurities in people, further leading to more serious mental conditions.
3. Trauma and Abuse
A woman may have trauma from childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, family loss, accidents, etc. Disturbing experiences such as these can leave long-term effects on the minds of women, triggering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or acute anxiety. Also, women with a history of trauma or abuse mostly do not get the required mental health care, which can further make the condition more acute.
4. Life Transitions
Major life changes can affect anyone's mental health, and women face several of them. Marriage, pregnancy, having a baby and career changes can all bring stress that affects mental health. Postnatal depression, also called postpartum depression, is a common mental health condition that can develop after having a baby. [2] Hormonal changes during these transitions can also make stress harder to manage.
Common Mental Health Problems in Women
There are different types of mental health conditions, and any of them can happen to women. However, women, in particular, are more prone to some mental conditions, such as:
1. Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in women, and women are more likely than men to have depression. [3] Hormones, responsibilities, social expectations and everyday stress can all play a part. Major life events such as a miscarriage, a break-up or divorce, a bereavement or a serious financial loss can also trigger depression. It may begin with deep sadness and develop into hopelessness, tiredness and a loss of interest or joy in things.
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2. Anxiety
Another very common mental health problem in women is anxiety. Juggling between family and career and trying to meet societal expectations often triggers generalised anxiety and panic attacks. Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy can add up to make dealing with the condition more difficult.
3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. [4] Women who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence or other trauma may develop the condition, which can cause anxiety, flashbacks, low mood and, in some cases, thoughts of suicide.
4. Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the three eating disorders often born out of body insecurities. These disorders can have severe psychological and physical effects, including life risk and hence require handling patients sensitively.
Why Is Women’s Mental Health Important?
Monitoring women and mental illness is extremely crucial. It is because of the number of factors regularly influencing the mental health of women. While factors like trauma and genetic influence can happen to anyone, hormonal fluctuations, social pressures, abuse, and stress to balance home and work are more common for women. With so many factors constantly contributing to developing mental health issues, women need care and support to deal with the triggers. If the conditions in the initial stage are left unaddressed, these issues can leave a deep impact on the woman’s mind, leaving long-term consequences on the health and relationships of the woman.
How Can Jagruti Rehab Help Women with Mental Health Issues?
Jagruti Rehab is a safe space where women are understood, helped and supported. Our psychiatrists and therapists are experienced and compassionate, and treat women's mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety, with care. We aim to make the healing process as comfortable and supportive as possible. Our programmes for women include:
- Individual counselling
- Group therapy
- Support groups
- Specialised programmes for postpartum depression
- Family therapy
- Mindfulness activities
At Jagruti Rehab, we prioritise women's mental health. We focus on understanding the root causes, treating them with evidence-based therapies and helping women build resilience to manage future stress.
Our mental hospital in Bangalore provides psychiatric assessment and personalised treatment for women facing depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns.
Mental health challenges are common, and no woman has to face them alone. With the right care and support, recovery is possible, and women can go on to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
