Celebrating International Women’s Day: addressing the mental health struggles of women
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration held on 8 March each year to honour the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
It also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity. While IWD is a time to celebrate progress, it is also an opportunity to highlight ongoing challenges, including the mental health struggles faced by women.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day has its roots in the early 20th century, with the first official celebration taking place in 1911. The day was established to advocate for women’s rights and promote gender equality. Over the years, IWD has grown into a global movement with events and activities held worldwide to celebrate women’s achievements and address gender-related issues.
The official colours of IWD are purple (representing justice, dignity and loyalty), green (hope), and white (purity).
The theme for IWD 2025 is ‘Empower Women, Empower Humanity’ and focuses on the need to empower women to create a more just and equitable world. This theme underscores the need to address mental health struggles, as mental wellbeing is crucial for women’s empowerment and overall quality of life.
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which, in the words of the UN, ‘is the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide that transformed the women’s rights agenda in terms of legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and change in social norms, stereotypes and ideas stuck in the past.’
This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation – youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls – as catalysts for lasting change.
United Nations (1)
Women and mental health
Mental health issues are a significant concern for women worldwide. Women are more likely than men to experience certain mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. These issues can have a profound impact on their daily lives, relationships and overall wellbeing.
One of the unique challenges faced by women is the way mental health can fluctuate during different life stages. For example, perinatal depression affects many women during pregnancy and after childbirth, while menopause can bring about mood swings and anxiety. Understanding these life stage-specific challenges is essential for providing appropriate support and care.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is twice as common in women as in men. Additionally, women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders, with studies showing that nearly one in three women will experience at least one in their lifetime. These figures highlight the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and support for women.
Women’s mental health struggles
Several factors contribute to the mental health struggles faced by women. Social pressures and gender roles play a significant role in shaping women’s mental health. From a young age, women are often expected to conform to certain standards of behaviour, appearance and achievement, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and chronic stress.
Work-life balance is another critical factor affecting women’s mental health, with many women juggling multiple roles, including careers, caregiving and household duties. The pressure to effectively manage all these roles can lead to burnout and mental exhaustion. Women who are primary caregivers for children, elderly parents or other family members often experience higher levels of stress and anxiety.
Trauma, abuse and domestic violence are also significant contributors to women’s mental health struggles. Women who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse are at a higher risk of developing mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.
The impact of such experiences can be long-lasting, affecting women’s ability to form healthy relationships and to maintain a positive outlook on life.
Breaking the stigma of women’s mental health
One of the most significant barriers to addressing women’s mental health struggles is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Many women feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help, because they fear judgement or discrimination. Sadly, this fear can prevent women from accessing the support and treatment they need to improve their mental wellbeing.
Breaking the stigma around mental health is crucial for encouraging women to seek help. Public awareness campaigns, education and open conversations about mental health can help normalise the experience of mental health struggles and reduce the associated shame. It is essential to create a supportive environment where women are comfortable discussing their mental health and feel able to seek professional help when needed.
Encouraging women to seek professional help and support is vital for addressing mental health issues. Mental health professionals, such as therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists can provide valuable guidance and treatment for women experiencing mental health challenges, while support groups and peer networks can offer a sense of community and understanding, helping women feel less isolated in their struggles.
Summary
Addressing the mental health struggles of women is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality and empowering women. By understanding the unique challenges women face, breaking the stigma around mental health, and encouraging women to seek help, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for women’s mental well-being.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us commit to advocating for women’s mental health and ensuring that all women have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.
+++
Here at MTS Psychological Health, I am passionate about your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Don’t suffer psychological issues in silence: get in touch and discover how I can help you to alleviate a range of anxiety and depression symptoms from mild to severe presentations.
We can discuss the best clinical way to alleviate your suffering, which may be either through a course of psychoanalytic psychotherapy or with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique / Tapping) and Aromatherapy, so you can enjoy life to the full again.
This site uses cookies to store and/or access device information. By consenting to their use, you allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour. Cookies do not allow us to identify you as an individual. Not consenting, or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Some cookies are purely functional and can be used without your explicit consent. Our full Cookie Policy is available here.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
