5 Ways to Support Women’s Mental Health

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than one in five women in the United States have, or will have, experienced mental health issues at some point in their lifetime. These issues can range from depression and anxiety to bipolar, eating disorders, OCD, and trauma. Women can often be overlooked when it comes to getting support — or even taken seriously — for these issues, which, if left untreated, can have significant and ongoing consequences including hospitalization, substance abuse, and suicide. With that in mind, it’s important to make sure that we support the mental health of our female-identified family, friends, and colleagues, and here are five ways to do just that.

1. Listen and validate women’s experiences

One of the reasons that many women don’t feel supported is because they feel like no one will believe what they have to say (or they may have already been told as much by someone they were hoping could help). This is because women have historically been classified as “hysterical,” dramatic, exaggerating, or attention-seeking by society, and the fear that this could be extended to us when we have our own struggles is very real. So when women report that they aren’t feeling like themselves, or they’re dealing with something painful or heavy, listen to what they’re telling you and validate their emotions. It’s a major way to make sure someone feels heard.

2. Gain an understanding of intersectionality

Being a woman is just one aspect of a person’s identity, but a woman could also be a Black woman, a Jewish woman, a queer woman, a transgender woman — different identities that can intersect and create richer and sometimes more complex (in positive and negative ways) interactions with the world. Make sure you remind yourself that one woman’s experience may not be the same as another woman’s experience just because they share a gender, and that these experiences are also influenced by other identity parts so that you can avoid making assumptions or generalizing how someone might feel.

3. Allow women to be their true selves

Many women feel like they have to fit a certain script of how to behave at home, at work, and out in their communities. Give them space and permission to express who they truly are so they don’t feel stifled by supposed gender norms, and ditch any stereotypes you might have about women. When someone feels free to be fully themselves it means stronger social connections, feeling more grounded, and increased self-esteem and confidence.

4. Support ALL aspects of women’s health

Mental health is influenced by other aspects of health in general, including physical and reproductive health (the overturning of Roe v. Wade is having a huge impact on women’s mental health as we speak, for example). Women deserve to make choices about their own bodies and health. Ask yourself what you can do to back that message, and if you’re not sure, the Center for Reproductive Rights created a toolkit to point you in the right direction.

5. Make formal sources of support available

People of all genders are shown to be happier and more productive when they have a formal network of support available. Sometimes that can be a support group, a church, an employee assistance program at work, or a licensed therapist. Talk Suite therapists are well-versed in women’s mental health issues and are available to provide support directly to individuals or act as a referral resource for companies seeking high-quality psychotherapy for their employees. Contact us to learn more.