Women’s mental health matters
Sex, gender, and inequality can impact the mental health and wellbeing of women and gender-diverse people, including their experiences when seeking treatment.
Women are nearly twice as likely as men to suffer from a mental illness.
In Australia, women and girls are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm, and suicidal behaviour relative to men.
Women’s mental health is influenced by biological factors, like hormonal changes and reproductive experiences, as well as social factors, including experiences of discrimination, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, unequal responsibility for unpaid caring work, and economic disadvantage.
Women and gender-diverse people can face intersecting forms of discrimination, like transphobia, racism, ageism, homophobia and ableism, which can worsen mental health.
Gender bias in the mental health system also plays a role. Treatments don’t always address women’s concerns and may in fact worsen their mental health. Services often fail to understand and address the unique needs of women, girls and trans and gender diverse people.
WHV advocates for a gender-responsive, intersectional, trauma-informed and violence-informed approach to mental health care across the entire health system.
Our services & support
The Women’s Mental Health Alliance
WHV is proud to have founded the Women’s Mental Health Alliance.
Formed in response to the 2019 Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the Alliance brings together 45 organisations and individuals, including consumer groups, community mental health services, clinicians and researchers. Its focus is to ensure that the voices, experiences and needs of women (both cis and trans) and gender-diverse people are centred in mental health policy, service delivery, and the implementation of the Royal Commission reforms.
The Alliance provides expert advice to policy makers and health services on the mental health of women and girls, and undertakes advocacy to ensure equitable access to evidence-based, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed and violence-informed mental health care.
Further information
Donate to create change for women
With your help, we can drive social change, address women’s health needs and promote fair and equitable healthcare for all. No contribution is too small, and donations over two dollars are tax deductible.