Gender Perspectives on Mental Health and Illness
Language: English
Structural inequalities, such as persistent wage gaps and limited professional opportunities for women, are bolstered by rigid gender roles and societal expectations that place caregiving responsibilities predominantly on women. These structural inequities can exacerbate stress and impact mental health. Within psychiatric treatment, gender roles contribute to further disparities. Women may receive diagnoses like depression or anxiety more frequently due to societal expectations, while men may encounter stigma preventing them from seeking adequate support. A critical perspective challenges these patterns and emphasises a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach to mental health care. Examining the complex interactions between mental health and gender is crucial for developing gender-sensitive, inclusive mental health services.
The symposium covers a range of topics including gender differences in mental health outcomes, patterns of mental health service utilization and recovery, the influence of gender roles and stereotypes on mental health, and intersectional perspectives that consider how multiple identities intersect with gender to shape mental health experiences.