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Loice Vavi-Health Matters
The focus on women and mental health. is a continuation from last week.
As indicated in part 1 of the article, countless factors affect women’s mental health, and each woman’s experience is unique. But in general, physiology, identity, and cultural norms are major influences.
Reproductive health
Reproductive rights include, among other things, access to contraception, safe and legal abortion, and maternal health care. Going without these services can lead to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and poor maternal health, all of which can worsen mental health.
Motherhood can be both rewarding and stressful. Society usually disregards the support mothers need, and many women end up shouldering the majority of caregiving and domestic work often while continuing to work outside the home.
Women who struggle to care for their children may feel isolated or guilty. Lack of social support also puts new mothers at a higher risk of postpartum depression. In related concerns, women may experience discrimination and judgment for not being mothers or feel disregarded once their children become adults.
How age affects women’s mental health
Mental health problems can happen at any age, but certain changes in different stages of life can increase the risk for women. From birth through childhood, girls are under pressure to conform to their community’s gender norms.
They may be socialized to be quiet, obedient, focused on their appearance, or unassertive, and they may feel they have to suppress parts of themselves to be loved or accepted.
During adolescence, girls may face new forms of gender-related discrimination, as well as pressure to conform to unrealistic standards of beauty, academic success, or popularity.
A 2021 CDC survey reported that adolescent girls are faring worse than adolescent boys “across almost all measures of substance use, experiences of violence, mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.”
In adulthood, many women encounter stressors like financial insecurity, work-life balance issues, and relationship challenges.
If they become parents, then hormonal changes, lack of sleep, and pregnancy or postpartum stress can affect their mental health. In midlife, high stress levels may cause poor sleep, increased health problems, and lower overall life satisfaction.
Women in their senior years experience age-related changes like retirement, widowhood, and declining health.
They may also care for grandchildren or aging loved ones, which can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Common mental health concerns for women
Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Women are also more likely to attempt suicide than men, although men are more likely to die from it.
How women can protect their mental health
Because every person is different, there’s no universal solution for managing your mental health.
That said, there are some steps all women can take to promote their well-being, no matter where they are in their journey.
Here are a few places to start:
1.Identify and manage stressors.
Reflect on your daily life, make a list of things that contribute to your stress, and ask yourself how you can minimise, eliminate, or cope with them.
2.Build and maintain strong relationships.
Women who prioritise their friendships are more likely to feel satisfied with their lives. These social ties serve as a support system that can help buffer against stress, depression, and anxiety.
3.Get regular exercise.
Regular physical activity like going on a walk, dancing, gardening, swimming, doing yoga can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost physical self-esteem.
4.Make time for self-care.
Prioritising your mental, emotional, social, and physical health is something you can learn in therapy and also do on your own. Self-care includes getting good rest, eating well, connecting with others, spending time outside, seeking care when you’re hurting or sick, and making time for activities that bring you joy.
5.Talk to a therapist.
If you or someone you know is struggling, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.
In addition to offering support and guidance, they can help you develop healthy coping mechanisms.
There are therapists, psychologist and psychiatrists, counsellors available in both private and government sectors ready to assist you.
For more information contact ;
[email protected] or 0772224231.
Online Reporter