Why Gender Matters
Thriving mental health is more than just dodging mental health disorders; it's about feeling equipped to engage with and contribute to the community around us.
Mental health is a crucial aspect for everyone. Yet, due to a mix of physiological and gender-specific factors, women are at a greater risk for some mental health issues compared to men.
Many elements can contribute to mental health challenges for women. These include emotional, biological, and societal influences, which can fluctuate throughout a woman's lifetime.
Biological events unique to women, such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, can precipitate specific mental health concerns. Additionally, experiences like miscarriages and gynecological health challenges pose their own mental health impacts.
Beyond biology, women's mental health is also shaped by the changing roles they play throughout life, along with economic, political, and cultural contexts. These aspects can significantly influence the incidence of mental health issues among individuals who identify as women or womxn.
Understanding the need for gender-specific support is key in both preventing and addressing mental health disorders and enhancing the mental well-being of women who face these issues.
With this understanding, we are driven to fund focused research on women's mental health and help empower the community about these findings through proactive education. Such research is foundational in creating woman-centered strategies that will inform the future of mental health care in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the crafting of support services and initiatives.
