The Department of Health published a consultation strategy 'Into the Mainstream` in September 2002. This set out the case for a focus on women's mental health:
Understanding women's mental health
Understanding the nature and causes of mental ill health in women, and how these differ from those in men, is essential to the development of mental health care that is responsive to women's needs.
Mental ill health in the general population
Whilst mental ill health is common in women and men, there are clear gender differences in the occurrence of mental illness between women and men. For example, anxiety, depression and eating disorders are more common in women and substance misuse and anti-social personality disorders are more common in men. There are also gender differences in the way in which women and men present with mental ill health. For example there is evidence to suggest that schizophrenia may have an earlier onset and a more disabling course in men.
Risk and protective factors for mental health
Whilst there are a number of risk factors linked to mental health, research into the impact of factors that give protection againstmental ill health is in its infancy. However the role of family ties, positive parenting experiences, social networks and good housing are all likely to play a part. Risk factors that impact particularly on women are:
- socio-economic factors eg poverty, 'work in the family';
- physiological factors eg hormonal and reproductive changes;
- psychological factors eg life events, social isolation;
In September 2003 the Department of Health published a follow up Implementation Guide 'Mainstreaming Gender and Women`s Mental Health`. These two documents are key in improving Mental Health Services for women and are still valid today. The Gender Equality and Women's Mental Health Programme has been reviewing progress 5 years on from the publication of these documents. The progress report will be available soon from this website.