Note: This article was created with valuable inputs from Dr. S. Preeti, Consultant Psychiatrist, Spandana Nursing Home, Bengaluru. Dr. Preeti has been practicing psychiatry for more than a decade.

Women’s mental health needs special attention as they are more prone to certain common mental disorders like depression and anxiety as compared to men. Moreover, some disorders such as premenstrual dysphoria, perinatal depression and perimenopausal symptoms are unique to women. In order to help women in their fight against metal illnesses, one must be empathetic, listen to them and empower them to communicate more. One must also be resilient during adversities and develop the skills to resolve conflicts.

There are various reasons why women are more vulnerable to these disorders. The reasons may be biological, socio-cultural, or psychological.

Biological: The brain’s wiring in terms of their thought process and the way they deal with different situations in life. These also include internalization of problems and hormonal variations at various tages of their lives.

Socio-cultural: The society’s expectations as to how women should conduct themselves, their roles in the family, gender biases, etc. put their mental health at risk.

Psychological: Traumatic events, abuse at a young age, an unhappy marriage, the stress of motherhood, family responsibilities, etc. impact their mental health to a very large extent.

Most women complain of extreme agitation, restlessness, irritability and mood-swings days before the onset of menstruation. These symptoms subside after the menstrual cycle begins. This is known as premenstrual dysphoria.

Pregnancy and childbirth is a major life event in the life of any woman, and the stress and responsibilities that come with this new role can be overwhelming. The sudden changes in the hormonal levels cause imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain. Most women experience changes in their mood and sleep disturbances during this stage. These symptoms, which generally subside with time, are called post-partum blues.

At the same time, some women can experience extreme sadness, lack of interest in taking care of the child, sleep disturbances, sense of hopelessness, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts. Such symptoms might mean that the woman is going through post-partum depression and needs immediate attention and care.

This care involves the following:

• The awareness that women are more prone to mental illnesses
• Recognizing that the change in their behavior and emotions may be deep-rooted
• Mobilizing and sensitizing the support system
• Getting them professional help to treat the illness in the best way possible