Women and Depression

Women and Depression

Depression has been found to affect women almost two times more than men. Women, as opposed to men, are associated with a lot of roles that they play every day. For example, the roles that they play include but not limited to; mothers, caregivers, workers, sisters, and friends. These roles can be demanding at times, leaving a woman overwhelmed with the number of activities that she must accomplish every day. This essay will vividly look at the factors that help to explain why women are more likely than men to develop depression. The factors may be related to cultural and societal forces. The essay will also look at things that women can do to help them combat depression.

Different researches done has unanimously shown that women are at a higher risk of developing depression than men. Depression on women can happen any time during their lifetime, but it is more common during the childbearing period (Borchard, 2020). The risk is even higher when a woman is pregnant and after a few days or weeks after giving birth. According to Borchard (2020), recent research has revealed that 25% of women who develop depression, develop it either during pregnancy or during the period after delivery (postpartum period). Women are, therefore, likely to suffer from depression more than men, given that men are not affected by pregnancy in this regard.

Women are normally faced with many events, which at times could be stressful.According to Borchard (2020), at a particular time, women need to acquire an education, carry pregnancies, take care of their children, and at the same time, pursue their careers. In this regard, women will need to strain to be able to accomplish all these. During such a time, the women become so weak and vulnerable, and at this point, depression is likely to affect them.

Other key causes of depression on women are caused by cultural and societal forces. For example, a study conducted on secondary school female students in Iran revealed that the students who came from poor backgrounds were at a higher risk of getting depression(Moeini, Bashirian, Soltanian, Ghaleiha&Taheri, 2019). Additionally, Moeini et al. state that women have more limitations than men. For instance, a male student is more likely to be taken to school to get an education as compared to female students. Such social discriminations weaken women and leave them at a higher risk of developing depression. Women have also been found to be more emotional than men. They are likely to be affected by social issues such as a failed relationship, divorce, and losing a loved one.

The first and most critical action to combat depression by a woman is to visit and consult a mental health specialist. The physician will diagnose the woman and find out the actual cause of the depression and advise the patient accordingly(Gregory, 2020). The doctor, upon ascertaining that a woman has depression, can either advise her on what medications to take or advise her to undergo therapy. According to Gregory (2020), besides medication, the women can also ensure they get sufficient sleep, have regular exercises, and also engage in different activities that can help them relax.

In conclusion, it is evident based on numerous researches done that women are the major victims of depression. Some of the major causes have been found to be social, cultural, economic, and biological, among others. Depression has become a leading cause of mental illnesses, especially among women. It is the responsibility of the individual woman to take action upon suspecting she might be suffering from depression.

References

Borchard, T. (2020). Why Do Women Get Depressed More Than Men? Retrieved 25 February 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/why-do-women-get-depressed-more-than-men/

Gregory, C. (2020). Depression in Women: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Retrieved 25 February 2020, from https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.women.html

Moeini, B., Bashirian, S., Soltanian, A., Ghaleiha, A., &Taheri, M. (2019). Prevalence of depression and its associated sociodemographic factors among Iranian female adolescents in secondary schools. BMC Psychology, 7(1). doi: 10.1186/s40359-019-0298-8