Women's Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma
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I feel confident that I can speak for a large portion of women; we are tired! Most women are simply burnt out! And some are simply afraid to talk about it, but it’s time to break the silence. Women's mental health is a complex and often overlooked issue. Despite the fact that women are more likely to experience mental health problems than men, they are less likely to seek help. This is due to a number of factors, including stigma, lack of awareness, and access to care.
One of the biggest barriers to women seeking help for mental health problems is stigma. Stigma is the negative attitudes and beliefs that people have about mental illness. It can lead to shame, isolation, and discrimination.
Coming from a strong and religious family, it was frowned upon to need help outside of the church. I found myself in and out of therapy numerous times because I was afraid that I would be viewed differently. It wasn’t until I made the decision for myself to heal and grow that things began to click for me.
Another barrier to women seeking help is lack of awareness. Many women are simply not aware of the symptoms of mental health problems or how to get help. This is especially true for women from marginalized communities, who may not have access to the same information and resources as others. Depression and other mental health disorders may look different. There isn't one size fits all.
Even when women are aware of the symptoms of mental health problems and want to get help, they may face barriers to care. These barriers can include cost, lack of insurance, and transportation issues.
Therapy and medication cost! I have personally experienced the burden and benefits that therapy can bring. Even with insurance, it's a bill that some simply can’t afford.
The first step to improving women's mental health is to break the stigma! We need to educate ourselves and others about mental illness and its impact on women. We also need to challenge the negative attitudes and beliefs that surround mental health. Times are different, we shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. It doesn’t make us bad people if we’re not feeling well mentally.
Finally, we need to improve access to care for women with mental health problems. This means making sure that women have access to affordable, quality mental health care. It also means addressing the transportation and other barriers that women face when trying to get help. For people that don’t live in a major city, it could take them at least 30 minutes to get to a healthcare provider and if they don’t have a means of transportation, that makes it even harder.
As women, the expectations of us are so high leading to stress. We want to work, be a good mother, wife, or partner, and it feels impossible. Did you hear the iconic Barbie movie speech? If not, you gotta watch it. It's real and hard to show up just as we are without the fear of judgment.
Women's mental health is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. By breaking the stigma, raising awareness, and improving access to care, we can help women get the help they need to live happy, healthy lives.
