Most national and international policies consider womens Health as an essential factor for the health of the family, children and the Society. Dr Tanmaini Das has shared some of her thoughts on womens mental health. Women juggle between multiple roles that have different expectations.
In the process, women get burdened and lose sight of own individuality. It causes many to develop symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs). CMDs are a group of conditions that include anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.
Besides CMDs, womens mental health is affected by premenstrual syndrome, post-menopausal syndrome (18%-5%), perinatal (22%) and post-natal disorders. The high prevalence of mental disorders among women is due to a lack of awareness about mental health disorders, the stigma associated with them and the fear of judgment by society.
Hence, it is important to recognize the symptoms of CMDs. Some of the symptoms are sadness, inability to think clearly and concentrate, extreme fear, loneliness, low energy levels, difficulty to solve daily problems, anger issue and extreme mood swings. Some measures to maintain mental well-being are exercise daily, practice of mindfulness, positive self-talk, indulgence in activities that enhance individuality and doctor consultation.
It is reported that one in five people may develop CMD during their lifetime. The Probability of CMDs is higher in the females than males. In a recent systematic review, the prevalence of common mental disorders among women was estimated between 6% to 69%. As of October 2021, women had the highest share of mental health disorders in India, amounting to 39% and 30% for Stress and anxiety disorder, respectively.