We often hear about the importance of mental health, yet women are statistically more likely to experience mental health challenges than men. For instance, depression is more common in women than men, and women are also more susceptible to anxiety disorders.

How can this be? Let’s explore some factors that directly affect women at various stages in life:

Social Media: Social media has a significant impact on young women’s mental health. The pervasive portrayal of unrealistic beauty standards and societal expectations on social media platforms contributes to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and an increased risk of eating disorders. Social media use is linked to increased rates of anxiety and depression among young women, as they strive for “perfection,” often without being consciously aware of the pressure they are under.

Busy Careers and Caregiving Demands: Women often juggle demanding careers with caregiving responsibilities, often leading to stress and burnout. Women spend, on average, more time on unpaid care work than men, making it harder for them to prioritize their own self-care needs and engage in healthy lifestyle habits that promote wellbeing. The pressure to “do it all” can result in neglecting personal health and wellbeing.

Parenting and Household Responsibilities: In many households, women continue to bear the primary responsibility for childcare and household duties, despite progress towards more equitable divisions of labour. This trend persists even when women are employed full-time, often leading to the “second shift” phenomenon where women take on a disproportionate share of unpaid work. If a woman chooses to stay at home to care for children full-time, she often becomes the primary provider of unpaid care work, which can lead to significant stress and financial vulnerability over time.

Domestic and Sexual Violence: Women are disproportionately affected by domestic and sexual violence, which has profound and long-lasting effects on mental health. About one-third of women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence, often by an intimate partner. The psychological impact of such trauma can result in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues.

Worldwide, over 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression. While women are more likely than men to seek help from their general practitioners (GPs) for mental health concerns, access to specialized mental health support is crucial. Barriers such as long waiting lists, stigma, and lack of resources can prevent women from getting the help they need.

Grow Mental Health’s Initiative:

Grow Mental Health offers free weekly support groups for women to address these challenges. These support groups provide a safe space for women to share their experiences and receive support from peers. The groups are held online, making them fully accessible from home without the need for travel, traffic, or parking! All meetings are highly confidential and without judgment. There are no waiting lists or need for a GP referral, and meetings are inclusive to everyone over 18 years. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, self-harm, perinatal mental health issues, or other challenges, Grow is here to help.

Through this online mental health support group, you will see how women support one another. No one needs to face a problem alone.

How to Get Started

Simply complete our registration form, and because there are no waiting lists, you can join a group right away. A member of our Grow team will contact you within a couple of work days to chat about the next step and answer any questions.