One in five women who’ve had a mental health crisis have been asked if they’re on their period, a study suggests.
And more than a quarter are told their struggles may be due to their hormones, according to research from the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
It surveyed more than 2,000 women as part of a campaign to highlight suicide rates among young women, which are at an all-time high.
CALM warned that ‘harmful biases’ mean that women’s feelings and symptoms become ‘often rejected and ignored” and are “often ignored as overly emotional, hormonal or attention seeking”.
The English lioness Fran Kirby supports the campaign.
England Lioness Fran Kirby, who previously spoke of the grief of her mother who died of a cerebral hemorrhage when she was just 14, supports the campaign
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 1,454 women died by suicide in 2021. Rates were highest among those aged 45 to 49, with 7.8 deaths per 100,000. However, the suicide rate among women under the age of 24 was the largest spike since ONS registration began in 1981
Ms Kirby, a CALM ambassador, said: ‘The statistics are hard to digest as these tragic figures are preventable’
The CALM survey, conducted by YouGov, surveyed 2,063 women ages 18 to 34 who had experienced a mental health crisis, such as panic attacks or depression, in the past five years.
Respondents cited body image (44 percent), loneliness (39 percent), relationship problems (32 percent), money worries (33 percent), and comparing themselves to others on social media (26 percent) as triggers for their mental health problems.
One in five women (20 percent) reported being told they were being dramatic, while a third (33 percent) were asked if they were “overthinking things.”
The results showed that a fifth (19 percent) felt “rejected or invisible.”
Many also reported not discussing their mental state for fear of being seen as “attention-seeking” (22 percent), too emotional (33 percent), or not being taken seriously (31 percent).
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 1,454 women died by suicide in 2021.
Rates were highest among those aged 45 to 49, with 7.8 deaths per 100,000.
However, the suicide rate among women under the age of 24 was the largest spike since ONS registration began in 1981.
Professor Louis Appleby, a government adviser on suicide prevention, said: ‘Suicide among young women is a national priority. Although the percentage is not high compared to other groups, there has been a clear increase over the past ten years.
“The causes are likely to be complex – including mental health issues, abuse, online experience – and prevention must be comprehensive as well. It reminds us that suicide is constantly changing and we need to be vigilant.”
The poll is part of CALM’s campaign to prevent suicide among women.
To highlight the rising rates of female suicide in the UK, England’s Lioness Fran Kirby stars in a short film showing how women can feel invisible when suicidal.
The video shows Fran going down in agony after being soiled with his hand raised. Despite needing help, the game continues
Ms Kirby, a CALM ambassador, said: ‘The statistics are hard to digest because these tragic numbers are preventable.
“That’s why I’m working with CALM to shed light on this issue and address the stigma that prevents young women from getting the support they need when they’re struggling.
“Like any team, we all have a role to play in making sure young women feel seen when they reach out.”
CALM flagged ONS data showing that every two days a woman under the age of 25 dies by suicide.
Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM, said: ‘Our research shows that even when speaking out, young women’s feelings and symptoms are often dismissed and ignored – often ignored as overly emotional, hormonal or attention seeking.
“These harmful biases are leaving young women unheard and unsupported, putting lives at risk like never before.
“We must take immediate action and strive to overcome the stigma that prevents women from receiving the recognition they deserve in times of crisis. By providing them with the necessary support, we can ensure that no woman has to face her struggle alone.’
- For confidential support, call Samaritans at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org