Women can experience a number of gender-related sociocultural, psychological and biological challenges that can detrimentally impact mental health.  Statistically, women are 20-40% more likely to develop a mental illness than men. According to several large-scale psychological studies conducted in the 1990s, “Women tend to view themselves more negatively than men and that is a vulnerability factor for many mental health problems.”  Women are significantly more likely to develop depression and anxiety.

Are Women More at Risk of Developing Mental Health Issues?

Daniel Freeman, Oxford University clinical psychologist analyzed 12 large-scale studies and concluded that women may be between 20% and 40% more likely to develop a mental illness than men. According to Freeman, “Women tend to view themselves more negatively than men and that is a vulnerability factor for many mental health problems."

Some common mental health issues experienced by women include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Postpartum depression
• Postpartum psychosis
• Post-traumatic stress
• Eating disorders
• Borderline personality
• Mood-related challenges
• Low self-worth
• Self-harming behaviors