Perinatal Nursing & Adolescent Psychiatry

Women’s Mental Health

Research suggests that women are about 40% more likely than men to develop depression. Depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and escalating rates of substance use affect women to a greater extent than men across different countries and different settings. Violence related mental health difficulties are poorly recognised. Women are reluctant to disclose a history of violent discrimination unless physicians ask about it directly. Women in 'mid-life aged 45-60 years, may be juggling caring commitments for children and older relatives as well as doing paid work and facing physical health problems. At the same time, mid-life women may find themselves in financial difficulty as a result of lifelong lower pay, part-time working, family caring, widowhood or divorce. This combination can increase their risk of experiencing mental distress.