The Department of Health
published a consultation strategy 'Into the Mainstream` in
September 2002. This set out the case for a focus on women's mental health:
Understanding
women's mental health
Understanding the nature and causes of mental ill health in women, and how
these differ from those in men, is essential to the development of mental
health care that is responsive to women's needs.
Mental ill
health in the general population
Whilst mental ill health is common in women and men, there are clear gender
differences in the occurrence of mental illness between women and men. For
example, anxiety, depression and eating disorders are more common in women and
substance misuse and anti-social personality disorders are more common in men.
There are also gender differences in the way in which women and men present with
mental ill health. For example there is evidence to suggest that schizophrenia
may have an earlier onset and a more disabling course in men.
Risk and
protective factors for mental health
Whilst there are a number of
risk factors linked to mental health, research into the impact of factors that
give protection againstmental ill health is in its infancy. However the role of
family ties, positive parenting experiences, social networks and good housing
are all likely to play a part. Risk factors that impact particularly on women
are:
- socio-economic factors eg poverty, 'work in the family';
- physiological factors eg hormonal and reproductive changes;
- psychological factors eg life events, social isolation;
The Gender Equality and Women's
Mental Health Programme has been reviewing progress 5 years on from the prior
publication of Into the Mainstream (2002) and Mainstreaming Gender and Women's
Mental Health: Implementation Guidance (2003). The progress report Working towards Women`s Well Being was published and launched in 2010.
Working towards Women's Well-being reflects and contributes to the government-wide commitment to
ensure fairness and equity for all women, of all ages and all backgrounds.
Women's Mental Health: Into the
Mainstream, published in 2002 by the Department of Health, described in detail
the mental health needs of women and, with its companion report Mainstreaming
Gender and Women's Mental Health: Implementation Guidance (2003), set out the
necessary steps to improve services to meet their distinct needs.
Underpinning these
recommendations was the principle that gender-awareness should be integrated or
mainstreamed into all planning, commissioning, developing, delivering and
evaluating of mental health services.
This report examines the evidence
for progress on the recommendations of Into the Mainstream and the
implementation guidance. It draws on two national surveys (in 2006 and 2007) of
mental health trusts, a wide range of relevant government and national reports
and evaluations, and evidence and observations from service users and third
sector organisations.
