Female Mental Health in Sociocultural Conditions When we look at what happens for women in terms of mental health and mental illnesses, we do you find that women are much more susceptible to such t...
Female Mental Health in Sociocultural Conditions When we look at what happens for women in terms of mental health and mental illnesses, we do you find that women are much more susceptible to such things as having twice as likely incidence of developing depression, twice or even more incidents of anxiety disorders, anorexia, and bulimia. They are also two times more likely to attempt suicide and two times more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder. The sad issues in terms of equality are that women are catching up in terms of alcohol dependence with two men, although men are dominant in their alcohol dependence problem.
The real impact of this is quite significant not just in The United States but around the world. If you add in the further costs of treatments, lost earnings, the loss of effective parenting, divorce, care of the elderly, and so on, the figure would be astronomically high. So, it's very clear that mental health in women or mental illness in women is gendered just like physical health is.
Men and women have different patterns of mental illness and other forms of mental distress, and they are exposed to different risk factors and vulnerabilities. Even with the same illness, there can be different expressions and treatment responses. So, when we look at this difference, it is helpful for all people. We're not trying to say that women are suffering more than men or vice versa. it's actually about the difference and once we can focus on that we can hopefully provide better outcomes.
When we look at the social aspects of why women develop illnesses in the way that they do some issues are very clearly different in terms of violence, poverty, and gender inequities in wages, power, and social roles. These things do have a significant impact on mental health. Then there are a considerable number of biological differences including the hormone aspects, circuitry, and genetic transmission and then there are psychological defense mechanism differences.
If you look at the global social impacts on women's mental health, there are definite global social impacts that have taken us backward in terms of women's mental health in the last five years. The effect that global politicians have does trickle down to every country's population. In light of this, the number of young women who say they want to go into politics or the occupations that will put them front and center has diminished significantly. This is because of the way the media treats women and because of the comments that are made that are very derogatory. So again, this is an issue that we need to be mindful of for our younger generation who are our future. We are already losing that battle in terms of social differences and power differentials.
We are all different. our culture, beliefs, traditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and race. These all affect how we deal with and experience the world. Many cultures have formed different stereotypical gender roles. When with a patient with this struggle, a mental health professional assesses attitudes, socialization, and beliefs that can influence their perceptions and interactions with individuals who are ethnically, socially, and culturally different from them.
If you see someone around you going through mental health issues, try doing some of the things we suggest; Say what you see. Address the changes you have seen with your loved one in a straightforward and non-judgmental way. Show that you care. When you were addressing these changes let them know that you care about them, that can make them feel like they're not the only one in this and they have someone that will stand by their side. Hear them out. This is their opportunity to share what they are going through but only if they want to and if they do you should listen to them. Check yourself. Understand that it is not your job to fix them, but you are just a loved one that cares.
Understand that you are not their therapist and you do not have to be their therapist. You are just someone who is being there and listening to them. Connect them to help. While addressing the change that you have seen is important, connecting them then to help is even more important. Starting that conversation can still be difficult and there are still a lot of barriers that we have to break through but if you follow these initial suggestions, you will be off to a good start. You will be the change that we need to see in our mental health.
