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10 Important Facts to Know About Women’s Mental Health

By HERWriter
 
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Mental Health related image Photo: Getty Images

It’s essential to know as much information about your mental health as you can at any time of the year, but with Mental Health Month coming up in May, there’s even more of an incentive.

Here are 10 important facts you should know about women’s mental health that can apply to basically everyone. Some are from experts, and some are from my own experience.

1) “Almost all of the mental health problems that women experience these days have effective solutions,” said Ellen Frank, a distinguished professor of psychiatry and professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Although women without mental disorders don’t have to personally worry about treatment options for them, they also don’t have to be in despair if they do develop a disorder. Examples of mental health problems women can experience that can be treated are depression, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Even mental health issues like negative body image and low self-esteem can be worked on.

“It’s just a matter of women getting connected to those effective treatments, which can certainly be a challenge,” Frank said.

2) Inadequate sleep and irregular daily routines can lead to some mental health issues.

“Getting adequate sleep is such a key factor in every one of these conditions, or preventing every one of these conditions,” Frank said. She suggests women try to get at least eight hours of sleep every night, but understands it can be difficult with so many responsibilities.

3) “Environment interacts with biology and this either creates well-being or distress, and social support is an important part of the environment,” said Donna Stewart, a professor and chair of women’s health at University of Toronto at University Health Network. “One of the things that may protect women from depression and anxiety is to have good social support and to encourage women to increase their social support.”

4) “Women are amazingly resilient, in spite of all the difficulties they have to deal with,” said Stewart, also a past president of the International Association of Women’s Mental Health. “And that resilience needs to be celebrated.”

5) Violence can interact with genetics and other environmental issues to determine whether a woman will get depressed or not, Stewart said. Considering how many women are physically and sexually abused or assaulted, this can be a major issue. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, "every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted." Sexual assault is only one form of violence.

6) Taking medication and/or going to therapy to improve your mental health is not a sign of weakness, no matter what your friends, family or the media say. Also don’t make the assumption that all medication or therapists are bad because a few didn’t suit you, or that you can handle all your problems on your own. Therapy and medication are proven to be effective in treating many mental disorders, so if you know you have some major problems you need to work on, why not give therapy or medication a try instead of struggling on your own?

7) Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. In order to be happy and healthy overall, you can’t neglect your mental health. It can be tempting to avoid treatment for depression, for example, because proper treatment can be difficult to obtain even with health insurance. But you have to be persistent if you value your health and life. Make your mental health a priority, not an option.

8) It’s your responsibility to be proactive and get educated about your mental health and mental health in general, and share your knowledge with others. For example, if you’re suffering from PTSD, it’s important to understand your symptoms, possible causes and treatments so you can also help others understand you. You don’t want to keep your support system in the dark if you have a diagnosis you’re dealing with. For people who haven’t been diagnosed with a mental disorder, it’s beneficial to know about different conditions and how to prevent them and support others who have them in case you ever develop one. Those who are aware can get treated faster generally.

9) There are many organizations willing to help you improve your mental health, including Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. There are also a lot of organizations working on research to understand mental health and the mind better. These organizations include the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Psychological Association.

10) Realize that “1 in 4 American adults who live with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition … can go on to live full and productive lives,” according to Mental Health America’s website. Also, there are at least 10 ways you can live healthier (mentally and physically), including working on positive thinking and overall optimism, according to the website.

Do you have any important facts about women's mental health you want to share?

Resources:
http://www.liveyourlifewell.org/
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may
http://www.nami.org/
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
http://www.apa.org/
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.