Raising Awareness on Depression and Other Mental Health Problems in Women
Depression is the most common medical health condition among women and according to researchers, twice as many women suffer from depression at some point in their lifetime than men. While the incidence of mental health problems is the same for both genders, women are more prone to depression than men. But the buck doesn’t stop there, PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks women are more prone to these mental health disorders than men too.
So why are women more prone to mental health concerns than men? And how can we improve the condition? On the account of World Mental Health Day 2020, we have delved into the topic to spread awareness and here we are. So read on:
Why women are more prone to mental health problems than men?
Biological and social factors play a key role in shaping up the psyche of a human. Journal of Abnormal Psychology says that women are more tend to internalize their destructive emotions which results in loneliness withdrawal and ultimately depression. And men on the other side, when faced with similar conditions externalize their emotions resulting in rude, impulsive and aggressive behaviour patterns and even harmful habits to vent out their emotions.
So naturally, women are more prone to anxiety and depression while men indulge in substance abuse and anti-social behaviours. And evidently, women are 70% more prone to mental health problems than men.
Mental health problems in Indian women – Risk Factors, Barriers & Solution
While urban India is slowing moving towards gender-equality, majority of the country (read: rural & conservative) still instigates gender discrimination. Biological, social and gender-specific factors when combined with traumatic and negative experiences, manifest as mental health problems in women. In addition to this, poverty, overwork, gender violence, sexual abuse also contribute to the decline in mental health among vulnerable.
The most important barrier that women for that matter even for men is the social stigma associated with mental health problems. In India, mental health is only gaining the light it needs in the past 10 years and still considered a stigma. Other barriers include lack of funds, time (more work) and even access to a medical health professional.
The first and foremost thing we as a society the problem is to raise the awareness of mental health in India and also take all the necessary measures to improve our mental health. We advise women to take-up exercise, meditation during this lockdown situation to keep you away from the built-up stress and relax. And most importantly it is okay to take about the prevailing mental health problems and even take professional help to get your headspace right. On the account of World Mental Health Day, let us all take it head-on and spread the awareness on mental health to kick out the stigma surrounding this global problem.