Mental Health in Women - Essay Example

Mental Health in Women By 16th October Mental Illness Mental illness can be defined as a medical problem that influences how an individual thinks, feels, behaves, daily functioning, and how he or she interacts with other people. This medical condition leads to an individual’s reduced capacity for coping with life demands. A standardized criterion is used for its diagnosis. In addition, these health conditions can be known as a mental disorder. There are various types of mental illness that can be said to be serious. Such illness includes schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. Today, doctors are able to treat and manage all these mental conditions (Hind 2010). According to Hind (2010, p.536) these mental problems affect all individuals regardless of their gender, religion, age, income, race, or social status. The beliefs that people hold about mental illnesses are not true. Such beliefs include personal weaknesses as the cause of mental illnesses, poor upbringing as the cause, and lack of character as the cause of mental illness (Hind 2010). Moreover, mental illnesses are treatable, and those diagnosed with severe ones actively participate in a treatment plan that is done individually, to relieve symptoms of their illness (Lisa 2014, p. 97). The feelings, thoughts, and behaviours of a person can also be influenced by a mental health problem, but not to a greater extent as the mental illness. Stresses of life can lead to mental health problems, which are common and temporary. Mental illnesses are more severe than mental health problems, although mental health problems if not dealt with early might lead to mental illnesses. Not only does people who experience mental illnesses suffer a lot, but also their friends, children and relatives suffer a lot (Lyndall 2003, p. 154). Moreover, the problems associated with these kinds of illnesses tend to increase day by day. The World Health Organization suggests that by the year 2020, mental illness like depression will be among the biggest health problems. Depressive and anxiety disorders are widespread mental illnesses. Every individual experiences intense feelings of fear, sadness, or fear at times. However, when these feelings become overwhelming and disturbing in a way that coping with daily activities becomes difficult, then that person is suffering from a mental illness. Relationships for such people become hard to maintain, coping with work becomes difficult, and leisure time becomes difficult to enjoy. In addition, people suffering from mental illness might reach a point where they cannot take care of themselves or even get out of bed, at their most extreme. Bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia involve psychosis (Heather 2014). People who suffer from such illnesses perceive their world in an abnormal way and lose touch with the reality. Heather (2014, p. 75) suggest that people with mental illness should be understood and supported, in the same way, as people suffering from physical illnesses. Challenges faced by women Mental health illnesses affect men and women equally, but some are common in women (Fonagy 2003, p. 230). Often, abuse is a common factor that leads to women’s mental illnesses. Various social aspects put women at risk of getting a mental illness or distress. The role and status women hold in the society expose women more to these illnesses. These social factors include a woman having multiple roles like being a partner, mother, carer, household running, and doing paid work. Another factor involves women being paid peanuts and is often associated with jobs of low status. Thus, they become weak and powerless. Moreover, social norms in many societies dictate that a woman should be the primary carer of not only her children, but also of other relatives who are dependent. This intensive caring for many might influence the physical, emotional, financial, and social stability of a woman, leading to mental distress (Meyer, Laura, & Sergio 2014, p. 1739). Women and women who experience sexual or physical abuse have a likelihood of developing a mental illness especially if no counselling or support is given (Chin 2004, p.72). In addition, women are often isolated due to them working on house works and concerning themselves with personal safety. In addition, another factor is that more women are affected by mental illnesses more than men are. Gagn, Vasiliadis, & Ville (2014, p. 139) suggest that internalization of painful feelings and not talking about them might lead to some women developing illnesses like eating disorders and depression. Various researchers suggest that among fifty million people affected by issues such as civil wars and disasters, eighty percents are children and women (World Health Organization 2014). In addition, a big number of women suffer from incidences of rape in many societies. Domestic violence and gender discrimination are other challenges that might lead to mental illness in women. Hunger, poverty, overwork, and malnutrition are also contributing factors. Consequently, these severe events in the society lead to women feeling inferior, sense of loss, humiliated and entrapped (Meyer et al. 2014, p. 1740). This is a sign of depression. Use of drugs and substances in women can be a contributing factor of mental distress. Other disadvantages that might contribute to women developing mental distress are like biological factors. Some researchers suggest that hormonal changes in women put them at a risk of developing mental problems. Another thing is giving birth. Post-natal depression affects some women after they have given birth. Women have high life expectancy, thus are at a risk of developing dementia. Women also experience more anxiety than men do and this because the majority of people with obsessive-compulsive disorders and phobias are women (Kohen 2000, p. 32). Women can be discriminated against due to their age, disability, race, low income, and poverty. Women who attend health care institutions in some countries might suffer from depression or anxiety disorder. This is because health workers to address women patients, thus discouraging them to disclose their emotional and psychological distress, the use authoritarian communication. Moreover, disclosure is most of the time stigmatized. Women are also misdiagnosed, undertreated, or over treated when they try to communicate the problems. In summary, Mental illness has been defined as a medical problem that influences how an individual thinks, feels, behaves, daily functioning, and how he or she interacts with other people. Depressive and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses, and abuse is a common factor that leads to women’s mental illnesses (Meyer et al. 2014, p. 1738). Social, biological, and economic factors have an influence on the mental health of women. Gender discrimination in the society is also a contributing factor to high cases of women suffering from depression. For example, gender based violence. We have seen that health care providers are gender insensitive. Thus, mental health institutions should come up with services that are gender sensitive. References Chin, L, J, 2004, The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination: Bias based on gender and sexual orientation, Greenwood Publishing Group: Westport, Connecticut. Fonagy, P, 2003, The development of psychopathology from infancy to adulthood: The mysterious unfolding of disturbance in time, Infant Mental Health Journal, 24, 212-240. Gagn, S, Vasiliadis, H, & Ville, M, 2014, Gender differences in general and specialty outpatient mental health service use for depression, BMC Psychiatry, 14, 139. Heather, B, 2014, Mental Health Parity: Where it has been and Where Its Going, Physician Executive, 40(2), 74-76. Hind, K, 2010, Gender and violence against people with severe mental illness, International Review of Psychiatry, 22(5), 535-546. Kohen, D, 2000, Women and Mental Health, Psychology Press, United Kingdom. Lisa, H, 2014, Mental Health Services in Primary Care: Implications for Clinical Mental Health Counsellors and Other Mental Health Providers, Journal of Mental Health Counselling, 36(2), 95-98. Lyndall, T, 2003, Parents with mental illness: Lacking motivation to parent, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 12(2), 153-157. Meyer, O, Laura, C, & Sergio, A, 2014, Determinants of Mental Health and Self-Rated Health: A Model of Socioeconomic Status, Neighbourhood Safety, and Physical Activity, American Journal of Public Health, 104(9), 1734-1741. World Health Organization 2014, Gender and womens mental health, retrieved 16 October 2014, < http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/> Read More