Women, Men and epidemiological and anthropological data

Epidemiological and anthropological data point to different patterns and clusters of psychiatric disorders and psychological distress among women than among men.

The origins of much of the pain and suffering particular to women can be traced to the social circumstances of many women’s lives. Depression, hopelessness, exhaustion, anger and fear grow out of hunger, overwork, domestic and civil violence, entrapment and economic dependence.

Understanding the sources of ill health for women means understanding how cultural and economic forces interact to undermine their social status. If the goal of improving women’s well-being from childhood through old age is to be achieved, “healthy” policies aimed at improving the social status of women are needed along with the “health policies” targeting the entire spectrum of women’s health needs. Such an emphasis calls for state gender ideologies that encourage investment in women’s health in broad ways, from education to economic empowerment and through legal and political mechanisms that enhance the status of women. It also calls for a concerted effort to improve and enhance social and mental health services and the competence of professionals and programs in concert with the improvement of health services overall.

WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH
Source: ( http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/mental.htm )