Exploring Risk Factors and Strategies for Women's Mental Health

Regardless of gender identity, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social

well-being. It is clear that mental health is very important at all stages of life, from childhood and

adolescence to adulthood and old age. However, according to what emerges from all the literature

consulted, it seems that being a woman is considered an intrinsic risk factor when we talk about

mental health conditions. There are biological, social, economic, and cultural differences that explain

why women's mental health is exposed to greater risk factors than men's. Some statistics dramatically

illustrate this situation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the percentage of

women who suffer from depression or anxiety is significantly higher than that of men. While 70% of

them have mental health problems, in them the probability is reduced to 30%. After the pandemic,

statistics suggest that women's mental health disorders have doubled compared to men's. In the US,

20% of women experienced some type of mental illness in the past year and the number is rising. Risk

factors such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorders, and substance abuse, have

affected women more than men, or at least they have done so differently.

Now, what kinds of things do I do to take care of my mental health? Well, I think the first

thing is to try to know and understand what risk factors explain the enormous variety of pathologies

that affect the mental health of women, and something very important: At all stages of our lives. Very

early, possibly after 7 years of age, the first mental health conditions appear.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinical studies show that boys are more than twice

as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as girls. Being more extroverted, hyperactive, and physically

aggressive, they are easier to diagnose and treat than girls. On the contrary, the absence of an accurate

diagnosis in the case of girls can lead to the first appearance of risks of developing mental health

disorders, especially when the girl enters puberty and becomes an adolescent.

I think there is not much debate that mental health problems often become more visible when

girls become adolescents, with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and eating disorders (anorexia,

bulimia, etc.) being the pathologies more common. While these conditions can occur alone, they often
appear together. Significant changes in sleeping habits, eating habits, rapid mood swings, rapidly

going from happy to angry and sad, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and attempts are usually the most

common. With genetics, biochemistry, and hormones that fluctuate naturally during the reproductive

years that begin with the menstruation of the girl-adolescent appear, other risk factors that affect the

mental health of women throughout their lives: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual

dysphoric disorder (PMDD), pregnancy, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and

menopause.

To these factors, we must add other physical, genetic, and psychosocial factors (disorders due

to the use and abuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs, bipolar disorder, and dementia, among

others). Of course, we must add to the risk factors that are extrinsic or derived from the external

environment. I am referring to the existence of a patriarchal and androcentric society that results in

unfavorable social inequalities for women, the socioeconomic gap between men and women, labor

and professional discrimination, gender stereotypes, gender violence, abuse, and aggression. sexual

among many. Enumerated roughly the variety of risk factors that affect the mental health of women,

the question is: What kinds of things do I do to take care of my mental health? I consider it key to

maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity, with its problems do not disappear, but it opens

the doors to counterbalance what depresses and torments me. I think it is important to manage our

thoughts, it is something like going on a diet of all the negative and toxic information that surrounds

me. I think it is essential to stop worrying about the future and stop questioning what has been done in

the past. And this happens by not comparing ourselves with others. I think we should be grateful for

what we have and accept ourselves as we are physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Healthy

body healthy mind. Physical and mental health are connected. We must take care of our physical

health through exercise, being active, eating a balanced diet, and trying to get enough sleep. Seek help

and interact socially, and very importantly, de-stress by practicing relaxation and meditation

techniques.

Daniela Buniak