Abuse and violence suffered by women and girls is the main reason they are much more likely than men and boys to develop mental health disorders, say British psychiatrists.
According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, experiencing such behavior in women and girls can cause very serious mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts and psychosis.
Difficult relationships, especially those involving coercive behavior, and dealing with pressures at home and in the family, are also major causes of poor mental health in women, it added.
A survey by the college found that psychiatrists across Britain believe violence and abuse are a major cause of mental health problems among women and girls, based on their experience of treating patients. When participants were asked to name the top three issues contributing to women’s poor mental health, almost six in ten (59%) identified violence and abuse – more than financial worries, loneliness, hormonal health or work or exam pressure.
Nearly half (49%) said relationship problems, often involving coercive behaviour, were another important underlying factor, while 48% cited pressure on the family and home.
“Tragically, it is not uncommon for female patients to experience long-term abuse that causes serious symptoms, including suicidal ideation or symptoms of psychosis,” said Dr. Catherine Durkin, the college’s joint presidential lead on women and mental health. “I regularly see patients who are dependent on an abusive partner or family member for emotional, family or financial reasons.
“Victims often feel unable to talk openly about such issues, meaning their problems sometimes go unnoticed for years.
“Not all abuse is physical. Psychological abuse also causes extreme damage and casts a long shadow over its victims.”
The findings may go a long way toward explaining the much higher incidence of a range of mental health conditions in women and girls compared to their male peers.
a recent report from 60 charities found that “women and girls are at significantly higher risk for multiple mental health problems, especially anxiety, major depression and eating disorders.”
The report, entitled A Mentally Healthier Nation, added: “This is due to both the physical and psychosocial experience of womanhood, with menarche, pregnancy and menopause being significantly associated with the development of mental ill health. health.”
The document, compiled by the Center for Mental Health think tank, also cited evidence showing that ‘experiences of domestic violence – including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and coercive control – are also gendered and are a significant risk factor for mental health problems in women and women. children”.
For example, women who have been victims of domestic violence are more than six times more likely than other women to receive treatment for mental health problems.
Research in 2022 by academics led by Praveetha Patalay, professor of public health and wellbeing at University College London, identified close links between sexual violence and mental illness. Victims were much more likely than others to suffer serious distress or self-harm.
The high levels of both forms of mental health problems in that age group would be much less common if they no longer experienced sexual violence or harassment, they found in a study of 9,971 young people born between 2000 and 2002, from whose health was monitored by the Millennium Cohort Study.
“There is a large gender gap that emerges in adolescence, where girls experience much more depression, anxiety and self-harm than boys, but the causes of this gap are poorly understood,” Patalay said, responding to the college’s findings.
“Sexual violence impacts the mental health of all genders. But these experiences are unfortunately much more common among girls and this likely contributes to higher rates of mental health problems in girls and women.”
Andrea Simon, the director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “These findings are not surprising given that women who experience intimate partner violence are three times as likely to have attempted suicide in the past year.”
But she added: “Survivors of male violence against women often find their reports of abuse dismissed or minimized when they seek help, including from health authorities.”
Victims may struggle to access the specialist help they need as rape crisis centres, domestic violence shelters and advocacy services operate on “precarious funding”, Simon added.
More doctors should realize that abuse and violence can cause mental health problems, says Dr. Philippa Greenfield, the college’s other joint lead on women and mental health.
“Doctors often do not realize that violence, abuse and coercive behavior can have serious consequences for mental health. This lack of awareness allows victims to go unnoticed and their mental health needs not appropriately addressed.” Many victims had poor access to practical and psychological support, she added.
All 54 NHS mental health trusts in England should employ independent domestic abuse advocates to ensure women get better help, the council said.