Explore the state and statistics on women’s mental health, why women's and men’s mental health is different, and 3 tips for better mental health.

“I’m fine.” The phrase slips out so easily, even when it’s far from the truth… Why do so many of us minimize when we feel like less than our best selves? 

Sometimes, “fine” may genuinely mean we’re feeling fine. In other cases, “I’m fine,” means we just don’t have the energy or desire to talk about what’s on our minds. 

In many cases though, “I’m fine,” means we’re really not feeling great. We just may not want to burden the other person. And we think that, just maybe, if we say we're fine — we may actually start to feel fine. After all, most of us have a million and one things to do. We don’t have time to feel “not fine.”

But the truth is: Your feelings matter. Your emotional experiences matter. And if you don’t give yourself time to nourish your mental and emotional health, it won’t be long before you feel the toll on your physical health and daily performance.

Data from Johns Hopkins Medicine has found that nearly 1 in 4 adults (18 years and older) in the U.S. suffer from mental health conditions in any given year.¹ Dig into these stats a little more, and you’ll find women typically experience higher rates of mental health problems.²

So today we’re going to explore:

• Women’s mental health, broken down by the numbers
• The causes of these gendered mental health issues
• The cost of not taking care of your mental health
• 3 tips to promote better mental health

Again, mental health isn’t just about feeling good. It’s what allows you to be the best version of yourself. Whether that’s in driving your career forward, taking care of your family, or having the energy to do the things you love most. So let’s get into it!

Women’s Mental Health Statistics

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that in 2021, 27.2% of women, compared to 18.1% of men, were living with a mental health condition. They also found that women were more likely to experience serious mental illness than men (at 7% vs. 4%).²

But let’s take a closer look at the stats on mental health for men vs. women.

Depression in women

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, women are nearly twice as likely as men are to experience major depressive disorder. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America further shared that 1 in 8 women will experience a depressive disorder in their lifetime (affecting 10.4% of women compared to 5.5% of men.)¹

Depressive symptoms also tend to differ between men and women. 

As children, boys tend to appear more tired in the morning and show less interest in previously loved activities when depressed. Girls are more likely to struggle with difficulty focusing and feelings of failure, guilt, sadness, and dissatisfaction with their body image. In adulthood, men tend to display more impulsive anger and irritability. Women instead seem more prone to sleep problems and feelings of stress and sadness when depressed.³

Postpartum depression

Data from the CDC reports that 1 in 7 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression in the weeks and months following birth.⁴

According to former assistant director of the John Hopkins Center for Women’s Reproductive Mental Health, Lauren Osborne, M.D, Postpartum depression isn’t the same as the baby blues.⁵

"Baby blues" refers to a natural recalibration of hormones that 85% of all new moms experience. They typically happen within 35 days after giving birth and last for up to 2 weeks. If symptoms last longer, it could be a sign of PPD and might be worth talking with a professional.⁵

Women and anxiety disorders

One well-regarded survey from the early 90s found the lifetime likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder was 30.5% for women and 19.2% for men.⁶

Unsurprisingly, given the split of women vs. men with anxiety, women also tend to show higher rates of specific anxiety disorders than men:

• Panic disorder (women 5% vs. men 2%)
• Agoraphobia (women 7% vs. men 3.5%)
• Specific phobias (women 15.7% vs. men 6.7%)
• Social anxiety disorder (women 15.5% vs. men 11.1%)
• Generalized anxiety disorder (women 6.6% vs. men 3.6%)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (women 10.4% vs. men 5%)⁶

Research shows that men and women may also cope with anxiety symptoms differently. For instance, women may be more likely to turn their emotions inwards, bottle them up, and withdraw, contributing to loneliness and depression. Conversely, men are more likely to externalize their emotions through impulsive, coercive, aggressive, and noncompliant behavior.⁷

Why Do Women Experience Higher Rates of Mental Illness?

Societal sources

It's important to note that this higher rate of women's mental health issues may be related to differences in willingness to share their struggles, rather than based on a predisposition towards mental health struggles.

Simply put, men and women tend to be raised differently. Values of independence, individualism, strength, and competition are typically stressed for boys. Girls are instead instilled with values of social connection, caring for others, and emotional expressiveness.

In adulthood, these different upbringings could incline women to be more open to seeking help, while men may feel they’ll be perceived as weak for needing help.⁸

Biological sources

Some experts have suggested that women may be more vulnerable to certain mental health conditions due to shifting hormone profiles. For instance, studies have linked changing estrogen and progesterone profiles with the onset of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. Studies have also connected shifting hormone levels with worsening symptoms of other mental health conditions.⁹

Your Mental Health Matters. Here’s Why.

Mental health isn’t just mental. It’s physical too.

For instance, anxiety and depression have been linked with worse sleep, higher blood pressure, and a higher resting heart rate.¹⁰

Research shows that, in general, poor mental health can cause physical symptoms, including¹¹:

• Worse sleep
• Higher blood pressure
• Increased risk of strokes
• Heightened risk of diabetes
• Increased resting heart rate
• Increased risk of heart disease
• Heightened vulnerability to sickness

While not explicitly correlated, women also experience higher rates of chronic pain conditions than men. Some have suggested there may be a link between poor mental health and chronic pain, with research finding a bidirectional relationship where both can worsen the other.¹²

3 Ways to Support Your Mental Health

Wondering how to improve mental health? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few quick tips to help you nourish your mental wellbeing.

1. Ace your wellness ABCs

The wellness basics will probably come as no surprise to you. They include:

A. Sleep (Aim for 7-9 hours/night)

B. Hydration (Aim for about 11.5 cups of water/day)

C. Movement (Aim for 30 minutes of movement, 5 days/week)

D. Nutrition (Aim for a balanced diet with plenty of whole foods)

Of course, making big shifts can be tricky. So take it slow. Add one small healthy habit at a time into your routine and get comfortable with it before adding another.

2. Schedule time just for you

This one can be tricky if you’re balancing a full schedule, but a packed calendar actually makes it that much more important to prioritize. The longer you run full-speed without taking a break, the faster you’ll find yourself at burnout.

Instead, protect yourself from burnout with regular breaks for activities you love. The key: plan your time with intention. 

If you want to take a nap, plan it intentionally. Doing something on purpose and achieving the goal you set out (no matter what that goal is) almost always feels more fulfilling than rolling through that block of time aimlessly.

Here are some activity ideas to inspire you:

• Meditating
• Journaling
• Working out
• Reading a book
• DIY art projects
• Gentle stretching
• Driving to a cool view
• Checking out a new restaurant
• Reconnecting with a loved one
• Taking a luxuriously relaxing bubble bath
• Having a marathon of your favorite movies

3. Talk with a professional

There’s no shame in talking with a mental health professional. If there’s one area of life that all our schooling tends not to prepare us for, it’s emotional and mental health. So if you’ve been struggling, please remember you’re not alone. Millions of women are in exactly the same boat. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. You deserve to feel your best, and if a mental health professional can give you some helpful tools, why not give it a try?

Resources:

1. Mental Health Disorder Statistics. (2019). John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-disorder-statistics
2. Mental illness. (2023, March). National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
3. Depression: His Versus Hers. (2021, November 11). Www.hopkinsmedicine.org. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/depression-his-versus-hers#:~:text=As%20we%20age%2C%20women%20are
4. Bauman, B. L., Ko, J. Y., Cox, S., D’Angelo, MPH, D. V., Warner, L., Folger, S., Tevendale, H. D., Coy, K. C., Harrison, L., & Barfield, W. D. (2020). Vital signs: Postpartum depressive symptoms and provider discussions about perinatal depression — united states, 2018. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(19), 575–581. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6919a2
5. Osborne, L., & Standeven, L. (2019). Postpartum Mood Disorders: What New Moms Need to Know. John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/postpartum-mood-disorders-what-new-moms-need-to-know
6. McLean, C. P., Asnaani, A., Litz, B. T., & Hofmann, S. G. (2011). Gender differences in anxiety disorders: Prevalence, course of illness, comorbidity and burden of illness. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45(8), 1027–1035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.03.006
7. Eaton, N. R. (2011). Study Finds Sex Differences in Mental Illness. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2011/08/mental-illness
8. Rosenfield, S., & Smith, D. (2009). Gender and Mental Health: Do Men and Women Have Different Amounts or Types of Problems? (T. L. Scheid & T. N. Brown, Eds.). Cambridge University Press; Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/handbook-for-the-study-of-mental-health/gender-and-mental-health-do-men-and-women-have-different-amounts-or-types-of-problems/73098CA54932BCA238693EAED341212B
9. Wieczorek, K., Targonskaya, A., & Maslowski, K. (2023). Reproductive Hormones and Female Mental Wellbeing. Women, 3(3), 432–444. https://doi.org/10.3390/women3030033
10. Gorman, J. M., & Sloan, R. P. (2000). Heart rate variability in depressive and anxiety disorders. American Heart Journal, 140(4), S77-S83.
11. CDC. (2023, April 25). About Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
12. Psychiatry.org - Chronic Pain and Mental Health Often Interconnected. (2020, November 13). Www.psychiatry.org. https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/APA-Blogs/Chronic-Pain-and-Mental-Health-Interconnected