March - Women's Mental Health
This March UFV highlights the awareness of Women’s Mental Health. Though many mental illnesses seem to be gender neutral, women often have different signs and symptoms, requiring different treatments and services. Homewood Health has provided some enlightening facts about women’s mental health. Did you know:
- 47% of women were considered at high risk of developing mental health disorders, compared to 36% of men.
- 25.7% of young women have self-harmed – more than twice the rate of young men.
- Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.
- Women who have experienced childhood trauma such as sexual abuse and physical violence are 3 to 4 times more likely to encounter depression as adults.
- Women tend to experience more concurrent mental health disorders. Depression might be accompanied by anxiety, agoraphobia (feeling unsafe), panic disorders, somatoform disorders (symptoms of physical illness or pain that cannot be fully diagnosed), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Women have significantly higher rates of developing PTSD following exposure to traumatic events – at least double that of men.
- An alarming 80% of individuals with eating disorders are women, which has the highest overall mortality rate of any mental illness.
External Webinars
Women’s Mental Health. Homewood Health prerecorded webinar (59 min). View the webinar.