By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Should Men and Women Have Different Mental Health Services?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Mental Health > Should Men and Women Have Different Mental Health Services?
Mental Health

Should Men and Women Have Different Mental Health Services?

Ryan Ayers
Ryan Ayers
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

  Access to mental health services and support is an important topic that is only now being discussed as essential for wellbeing and overall health. Both men and women need access to mental health services in order to thrive, and unfortunately, many people have trouble getting the support they need. In thinking about the state of mental health services in the United States, we need to ask some challenging questions in order to ensure that everyone is taken care of according to their needs. For instance, should men and women have different mental health needs? Or should everyone be given the same care, regardless of gender? This isn’t an easy question to answer. There are lots of variables at play that can affect the services each person needs. Here are just some of the factors that can affect which mental health services are most appropriate.

Contents
  • Do Men and Women Have Different Mental Health Needs?
  • Women’s Mental Health vs. Men’s Mental Health
  • What About Work? Is Offering Different Mental Health Services Promoting Gender Inequality?
  • Do Mental Health Needs Shift with Age?
  • Making Mental Health a Priority For Everyone

Do Men and Women Have Different Mental Health Needs?

Biological differences and gender-based cultural socialization can both play a role in a person’s mental health, but does this mean that men and women have different needs for mental health support? Quite possibly, according to recent research. Israeli neuroscientist Hermona Soreq has uncovered differences in the brains of male and female schizophrenia patients and feels that it’s time for women and men to receive different treatment for mental illness, according to these differences. Many women, she argues, do not get the mental health care they need because these diseases have been viewed through a male lens for so long. Because the field of medicine has been dominated by men for so many years, many mental illnesses have been studied only from the male perspective. In addition, male mice are almost always used for testing because they do not have complex reproductive cycles that can affect the research schedule. Cumulatively, this means that the needs of women are often overlooked.

Women’s Mental Health vs. Men’s Mental Health

Men and women can both be affected by mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and schizophrenia. But these disorders often manifest in different ways and can involve different symptoms in men and women. Overall, women are more likely than men to suffer from severe mental illness. In the United States, 5.7% of adult women and 3.3% of men are diagnosed with a serious mental illness each year. This may be due to the fact that women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, which heavily contribute to certain mental illnesses. Women also often wait longer before seeking help for problems like PTSD, due to lingering stigma, shame, and other cultural factors. These facts show us that women and men may need different services in order to achieve optimal individual well-being.

What About Work? Is Offering Different Mental Health Services Promoting Gender Inequality?

Mental health in the workplace is key to productivity and happiness. In fact, anxiety and depression alone cost employers worldwide about $1 trillion each year in productivity. That’s huge, and it’s an enormous incentive for companies to offer their employees mental health services. But how should employers approach mental health services for men and women in the workplace? Is offering different services actually discriminatory? Obviously, equality is important. But what we need to be thinking about is equity—the process of compensating for disadvantages that exist for a group in order to work toward equality. Historically, women’s mental health needs have been dismissed more often than men’s. Because of this, offering mental health services that promote equity and acknowledge the different needs men and women have is key. However, it is also important for employers to understand and comply with federal and state regulations while ensuring that employees feel supported instead of excluded or singled out.

More Read

Emerging Diabetes Technology Promises to Make Life Easier
How To Overcome Depression And Anxiety Naturally
The Risks Of Ignoring Chronic Pain Can Lead To Serious Diseases
Doc Foreman: Suicide Education and Twitter [PODCAST]
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care

Do Mental Health Needs Shift with Age?

As if the biological and cultural factors of mental health needs weren’t enough, there’s the question of age. Do a person’s needs shift as they age? Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes. Over 20% of the senior population in the United States has at least one mental health issue. Older people may develop conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, but they may also suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues that affect every age group. Seniors often do not have support from friends or family members and may struggle with isolation. It’s absolutely crucial for people to have access to mental health services as they age, regardless of gender identity.

Making Mental Health a Priority For Everyone

As a society, we’re finally beginning to acknowledge just how common and devastating mental illness of all types can be. Depression and anxiety cause huge numbers of men and women to struggle on a regular basis and can make everyday activities difficult. We need to continue to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness and understand that everyone needs mental health services to thrive. Understanding the needs of different groups is key to ensuring that everyone gets the specialized help they need when they need it.

TAGGED:Healthcaremental healthmental healthcare
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Ryan Ayers
Follow:
Ryan Ayers has consulted a number of Fortune 500 companies within multiple industries including information technology and big data. After earning his MBA in 2010, Ayers also began working with start-up companies and aspiring entrepreneurs, with a keen focus on data collection and analysis.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

bipolar treatment options and symptoms
Health

Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

September 22, 2022
good mental health
Mental Health

Why Goal-Setting Can Contribute to Good Mental Health

July 16, 2023
The Role of Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluations in Effective Mental Health Care
Mental Health

The Role of Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluations in Effective Mental Health Care

April 26, 2025

Blister Pack Adoption Increases Medication Adherence, Save Lives

June 25, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?