Mental Health
Societal and cultural norms have too often dictated that women are caretakers first and individuals second. Often, women feel obligated to put others, children especially, before their own needs. It’s why we so often point out that women should put themselves first and not feel selfish about self-care.
In truth, everyone, regardless of gender, could use a little bit of self-care more regularly, even in small but powerful ways. By taking care of your mental health, and by advocating for your mental health needs in a healthcare provider’s office, you can improve your relationship with yourself, your healthcare provider and anyone most important in your life. And women’s health providers, especially, are positioned to be empathetic and validating to your experiences.
If you have mental health concerns related to stress, depression, anxiety or just need a little bit of direction, a women’s health provider can refer you to a welcoming and affirming behavioral health specialist who can help with whatever you need. And that’s especially true for anyone in need of gender-affirming surgical services who need to follow the current guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
“On top of all the minority stress that happens to certain women and female-identifying groups, cis or trans, mental health is an added layer of minority stress that is felt,” says Dr. Ferrando. “To also admit that kind of vulnerability and weakness is something that people really try to avoid.”
No matter how you show up in a healthcare provider’s office, you are valid. Your thoughts and your feelings matter. How you see yourself in relation to the world around you is important. And whether you align yourself with womanhood or define yourself by other means, who you are at your core and what kind of care you need in order to live a healthy, sustainable life is key to your human experience. And that experience in healthcare often begins with sharing your story.
“A lot of people just want to live life as themselves,” says Dr. Ferrando. “And in the right, supportive environment, your medical narrative, like your story, is relevant to the care you’re going to need.”
Mental disorders that are more common or different in women:
-
-
-
- depression,
- anxiety,
- eating disorders
-
-
Barriers to mental health
There are considerable barriers to mental health care in many ethnic communities. Main themes found to contribute to these barriers include: lack of awareness about mental illness; stigma and negative emotional responses towards self, family experiences; service barriers such as access and quality of care; and lack of culturally sensitive care.11
-
-
-
- lack of awareness,
- stigma,
- self and societal criticism,
- barriers to access,
- lack of culturally sensitive care.
-
-
Risk Factors and Stressors for Mental Health Challenges
Typically, women experience increased rates of mental health problems compared to men regardless of their country of origin, ranging from depression to eating disorders.4 This may be explained by the greater rates of intimate partner violence and childhood sexual abuse as well as societal norms regarding gender roles.4,5 Women are expected to be competitive and assertive, but also nurturing, vulnerable, and emotional, which may pose a unique stressor as they attempt to balance these conflicting gender roles.6
Background
In the United States, 18% of adults live with at least one mental health disorder.1
While the prevalence of mental health disorders often does not significantly differ across racial groups, the enduring nature and adverse consequences of these disorders disproportionately burden racial minorities, especially [Women of color]WoC.2 Simultaneously, white women are almost twice as likely (21.5%) as Asian (5.3%), Black (10.3%), and Hispanic (9.2%) women to seek mental health care services.3 This stark disparity in utilization rates highlights that women from racial minority groups face significant barriers in accessing mental health care. This article examines the potential risk factors contributing to the burden of mental health problems faced by WoC, explores possible explanations for their underutilization of mental health services, and offers recommendations for clinicians to address the limitations within the mental health care system, with the goal of enhancing the provision of care for WoC.
Source: Psychiatric Times
