Women's Mental Health

Women have unique experiences of mental illness. Women have depression more often than men, for example, and are depressed in different ways. Many women have traumatic experiences that affect their mental health. Mothers with mental illness face particular challenges. Achieving balance between work and home life is one of the keys to improving women's mental health.

The following resources discuss these and other issues and provide information for women about finding and choosing treatment for mental health problems.

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Gender Differences

Women and men live through mental illness differently. The cause, prevalence, symptoms, treatment and outcomes of mental illness in women are often unique. [continue...]

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Achieving Balance between Work and Life

Conflict between the demands of work and caring for children and family is stressful for many women. Researchers call this "work-life conflict." In surveys of employees across Canada, more women than men report conflict in trying to balance their responsibilities at home and in the workplace. [continue...]

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Violence and Trauma

People who experience traumatic events can develop a variety of emotional and physical problems. Traumatic experiences, including childhood physical or sexual abuse, can cause mental health problems. [continue...]

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Mothers with Mental Illness

Over half of all women with serious mental illnesses are parents. Women with mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders are as likely as other women to be good parents. [continue...]

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Finding and Choosing Treatment

Women have two advantages in getting help for mental health problems — they are generally more willing to talk about their mental health problems, and are thus more inclined to ask for help. However, there are still many barriers women must overcome to access effective mental health support and treatment. [continue...]

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Special Topics

• Psychiatric Medication and Weight Gain
  Weight gain related to the use of psychiatric medications is a matter of concern for many women, but there are strategies to help cope with this distressing side-effect. [more...]

• Les médicaments psychiatriques et le gain de poids
  Le gain de poids lié à la prise de médicaments psychiatriques inquiète de nombreuses femmes, mais il existe des stratégies pouvant aider à contrer ce pénible effet secondaire.

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CMHA Fact Sheets

• Women and Mental Illness
• Postpartum Depression

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Related Resources

• Echo: Improving Women's Health in Ontario
  In 2009, Echo succeeded the Ontario Women’s Health Council as a focal point and catalyst for women’s health at the provincial level, by working in collaborative partnerships with the health system, communities, researchers and policy makers. Mental health and addictions, chronic disease, and sexual and reproductive health are the areas of initial focus for Echo’s work.
  • The POWER Study (Project for an Ontario Women's Health Evidence-Based Report)
    A multi-year project funded by Echo that is producing a comprehensive provincial report on women's health.
  • A Literature Review on Depression among Women: Focusing on Ontario (January 2006)
• Ontario Women's Health Network

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Acknowledgements

CMHA Ontario developed the Women's Mental Health section of this website with the Women's Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dr. Diane Whitney is the Clinical Director of the Program. [continue...]

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Last updated: September 8, 2010