Mental Health Challenges Women Commonly Face at Every Age
We’re going to start with an eye-opening stat: Women in general are twice as likely to have depression than men, with around 1 in 8 women (10%) being diagnosed with depression.
Mental health challenges can be tricky to navigate, and it can be especially difficult for women who may be facing hormonal changes and challenges throughout different stages of their lives, including puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.
Today we’re sharing the surprising facts and statistics about common mental health challenges women face at every age, as well as where you can find support and resources.
If you’re struggling with depression and having suicidal thoughts please contact your nearest suicide prevention center immediately or follow the resources provided at the Mental Health Foundation or Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Mental health challenges women commonly face at every age
Mental health challenges in adolescence
During adolescence, physical changes, emotional changes, and hormonal changes can be difficult and as a result, adolescent girls between ages 12 to 17 may experience anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-esteem issues. Additionally, research shows many girls experience social pressures and developmental challenges that can contribute to stress and anxiety.
On top of that, last year researchers asked about 40,000 teenagers in the UK about their overall wellbeing and found girls to be 3x as likely than boys to experience serious emotional difficulties. Overall, more than half of girls (3 in 5) report feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2021.
Some specific mental health challenges women face during adolescence:
Eating disorders:
Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to developing eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder due to societal pressure to have a certain body type. Eating disorders are twice as common in girls than boys during their teenage years, with almost 4% of women experiencing them in the US as of 2020. Women are on average 18 years old when they start experiencing bulimia and anorexia, while women experience binge eating disorder slightly later generally around 21 years old.
Eating disorders can affect men & women at an age. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can find support at the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc. (ANAD), a non-profit that provides free peer support, mentors, grocery buddies, and support groups throughout the U.S. Find and sign up for virtual eating disorder support groups tailored towards specific groups of people here, or more free general eating disorder virtual support groups here.
Self-esteem, anxiety, and depression
A study based on interviews following more than 11,000 UK girls, found that three-quarters of 14-year-olds who struggle with depression, have low self-esteem, poor body confidence, and are getting less than 7 hours of sleep a night.
What contributes to this?
Research shows the hormonal changes that occur during puberty can also contribute to the development of anxiety and depression. Some research shows that girls that develop puberty early seem to have a higher risk for anxiety and depression and that risk extends for several years. Not only are hormone fluctuations contributing to changes in mood, but this is also the stage of development where peer acceptance is part of the social hierarchy. Physical changes can impact self-esteem, your identity, and how you see yourself and your future. All of this and more can put girls at an increased risk of mental health challenges in adolescence.
Mental health challenges in early adulthood
Early adulthood is often the time when women establish their careers and build relationships. It can be a challenging time to navigate through societal expectations and personal goals. Women in this age group may experience stress, anxiety, and depression as they try to balance various responsibilities, as well as relationship challenges, financial stress, and pressure to start a family.
Some specific mental health challenges women face during early adulthood:
Work-related stress
Many women in their 20s and 30s are trying to establish their careers and may experience high levels of stress and burnout. A global survey conducted from November to December 2022 found that 46% of women experienced work-related burnout, which is almost 10% higher than men. Of the 10,000 workers in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, and Japan surveyed, close to half (48%) of the under-30s in the workforce reported burnout feelings, compared to 40% of those 30 years old and older.
Researchers note that workers who are unhappy with the flexibility their workplace offers are 43% more likely to report feelings of burnout compared to those who are content with their workplace flexibility. Flexible work policies have been named as the #1 contributor to improving company culture for employees for two years in a row.
Relationship challenges
This age group may also struggle with relationship challenges, including breakups and divorce. Women on average have their first marriage around 28 to 29 years old, and this marriage generally lasted around 8 years for those that get divorced. This puts many couples in their late 30s or beyond when they experience their first divorce, but we’ll touch on more of that below.
Reproductive health challenges
Many women in their 20s and 30s may struggle with reproductive health challenges such as fertility issues or pregnancy complications. Statistics show that in the US, among women aged 15-49 with no prior births, around 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year or trying. Studies also suggest that after 1 year of having unprotected sex, 12% to 15% of couples are unable to conceive. It's important to highlight that fertility is not a woman's health issue alone, either. For couples that struggle to conceive, about a third of cases are due to female infertility, a third are due to male infertility, and the remaining cases are due to male/female combined infertility and unknown factors.
Experiencing infertility or reproductive challenges can have a significant impact on mental health. Studies have found mental health conditions including depression and anxiety to be more common in those women experiencing infertility or reproductive challenges. One large study looking at women visiting an assisted reproductive therapy (ART) clinic found more than one-third screened positive for depression even prior to receiving treatment.
Research has also found that as women progress through infertility treatments, they tend to experience more symptoms of depression and anxiety. On the other hand, the more depressed a woman feels, the less likely she is to start infertility treatment and the more likely she is to drop out after only 1 cycle. Unfortunately, even when women have the financial means and a positive prognosis, psychological reasons are most often the main reason for discontinuing treatment.
If you've been trying to conceive, it's important to know that it’s normal for it to take a while, even without any fertility issues. If you are under the age of 35 it's recommended that you try to conceive for a full 12 months before consulting a doctor or a fertility specialist (unless you or your partner have pre-existing conditions that might have an impact on fertility or reproductive functioning). If you are over the age of 35, it's recommended that you try to conceive for a full 6 months. Read more in Infertility Is Not Your Fault: 5 Things You Need To Know.
Pregnancy & postpartum
Worldwide, about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women in postpartum experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. Suicide is also one of the leading causes of maternal death in the US and is the leading cause of death in countries such as Japan, the UK, and Ireland.
One of the most common maternal mental health conditions is postpartum depression – and it can often be chalked up to the "baby blues." While a drastic change in hormones will lead to mood changes and teariness in most women, it's important for you (and your friends, family, and partner) to be aware of the signs that this may be something more serious.
Signs of postpartum depression include:
The constant presence of negative thoughts or feelings
Anxiety about things that don’t normally bother you
Insomnia (unable to fall asleep) or Hypersomnia (very extended periods of sleep)
Finding no pleasure in being with your baby
Feeling resentment towards your baby
Avoiding seeing family or friends
Being extremely irritable, angry and/or tearful
Strong feelings of guilt
Lack of appetite
Low self-esteem and self-worth
Flat affect
When it comes to your own mental health, understanding the baby blues and how that differs from postpartum depression and anxiety is so important in knowing how to cope effectively.
Adjustment challenges as a new mother
New mothers may struggle to adjust to the demands of caring for a newborn while also dealing with physical and emotional changes themselves. For example, difficulty sleeping is a common pregnancy trouble, especially during the 3rd trimester -- around 75% of women report issues falling asleep and staying asleep while pregnant. After giving birth, the average new mom only gets around 6 hours of sleep a night during the first six weeks postpartum (despite the recommendation for women being between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night).
Read Maternal Mental Health: Resources To Support Your Mental Health In Pregnancy & Postpartum for more.
Mental health challenges in midlife
During midlife – a term commonly used to describe the middle period of your life, usually between your 40s and 60s – is generally the time when people go through many physical, psychological, emotional, and social changes, such as perimenopause and menopause; hormonal fluctuations that can lead to depression, anxiety, and mood swings. At this age, women can also become caregivers for older family members, adding additional stress and challenges to their home lives.
Some specific mental health challenges women face during midlife:
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a major life transition that can lead to hormonal fluctuations and mood swings, contributing to depression and anxiety.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, women in general are twice as likely to have depression than men with around 1 in 8 women (10%) being diagnosed with depression. During perimenopause, this risk increases quite substantially, and unfortunately, research has found over 50% of women experience feelings of anxiety and depression during perimenopause.
Where you’re currently at on your menopause journey also impacts your mental health — around 18% of women experience symptoms of depression in the early stages of perimenopause, but as you near menopause (12 consecutive months without a period), this increases up to 38% of women.
Get more support for mental health in perimenopause with these resources.
Divorce and relationship struggles
There are over 16 million women in the US that have been divorced and most are currently between 45 to 54 years old. More specifically, women have generally been around 45 years old when they experience divorce – the time when hormone fluctuations and perimenopause symptoms might begin to arise, contributing to stress, which can also put a strain on relationships. One recent survey found 7 out of 10 women blame menopause for their marriage breaking down.
Caregiving stress
Women in their 40s and 50s may be responsible for caregiving for aging parents or partners, which can be a significant source of stress. Stress can be a good thing, but when it goes on for a prolonged period of time, it can cause some health issues more often than men. For example, women are more likely to develop symptoms of anxiety and depression than men who are caregivers.
Work-life balance
Many women in midlife are juggling work and family responsibilities, which can be a source of stress and anxiety. On average, 3 in every 5 women are negatively affected at work in perimenopause. Some research has shown women with poorer self-rated health and experiencing depression were more likely to have difficulties coping at work during menopause.
Mental health challenges in later adulthood
In later adulthood, women may experience isolation and loneliness as they retire and experience changes in their social circles. Many women also experience health challenges such as chronic illness and disability, which can impact their mental health. Additionally, women in later adulthood may experience grief and loss as they lose loved ones.
Social isolation
Women in later life may experience social isolation and loneliness as they retire and experience changes in their social circles. In fact, research shows that social relationships typically begin to decline as we age but quality social relationships are associated with greater happiness, health, and longer lifespan and a Harvard study found that friends can help lower stress levels and even keep your brain sharp and healthy for longer so it’s important to prioritize your social life.
Having friends to talk to when times are tough is so important when it comes to mental health. Research shows that when women go through a stressful experience, their body releases the stress hormone cortisol to trigger the ‘fight or flight’ response, but also releases another hormone known as the love hormone, oxytocin! Researchers speculate this happens as a way of encouraging women to protect their young, as well as other women in high-stress situations. This “tend and befriend” reaction can help support women’s emotional needs in coping with these outside pressures. The body’s natural instincts always blow our minds!
Friendships also impact your physical health
Although more research needs to be done focusing on women as a whole and specifically women of color, the importance of solid friendships for better health has been proven in several studies including one that found that supportive relationships can help lower your blood pressure which can have a great impact on your overall health.
Physical health challenges
Many women in later life experience chronic illness and disability, which can further impact their mental health. Women have an increased risk for osteoporosis and broken bones after menopause and can lose up to 20% of their bone density within the first 5 years after going through menopause. This can decrease women’s mobility and lead to feelings of stress and anxiety, wanting their independence. In fact, about half of women over 50 years old will break a bone due to osteoporosis at some point in their life, making maintaining your bone health a critical part of supporting your overall healthy aging.
Grief and loss
Women in later life may also experience grief and loss as they lose loved ones.
You don't need to be diagnosed with a mental health condition to be validated.
Even if you aren't struggling with a diagnosable condition, you should still be doing your best to take care of your mental health. What you're feeling is real and valid, even if it's not diagnosed.
Reducing suicide rates starts with each of us.
You deserve to wake up feeling good in the morning, like your best and healthiest self, and you deserve happiness — so if you are not feeling this way on most days, recognize that something is not right. We promise there are resources that can help you and you deserve full and complete access to them.
Help is out there. And the sooner you reach out for help, the sooner you can be on the path to healing. Less than half of women experiencing depression seek treatment–but between 80 and 90% of those that do seek treatment are treated successfully using therapy and/or medication.
We know that oftentimes reaching out for help in these situations can come with shame or embarrassment, and we wish we could wash away those feelings away for you. They don’t serve you, and they surely don’t define you.
For all of those who needed to read this today, we see you and we support you.
Mental health support & resources
In the US:
SAMHSA has information on where and how to find wellbeing support and services across the US
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (TTY: 1-800-487-4889) or text TalkWithUs (English and Spanish)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224) or text START to 88788
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741
Have you tried calling a warmline? Warmlines are a free and confidential way for you to have a conversation with a trained peer who’s been through their own mental health struggles and can help provide support when things are tough. You can always still call warmlines for support in a crisis, but helplines are great resource that provides immediate support to help keep you safe and can assist in locating crisis resources in your area. You can find a list of warmlines in your state here, and in the UK and internationally here.
In the UK:
Mind, a charity based in the UK, has incredible mental health resources, helplines, and information about local and online support or services available
Anxiety UK offers support on anxiety disorders, information, and therapies
The NHS can offer support and guidance for you and your mental health. You can also reach out to your primary care provider who can assist you with finding specialist care
If you’re struggling with depression or other mental health conditions and having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. You can find a list of mental health support and resources at the Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Mental Health Foundation.
The takeaway.
Mental health challenges are prevalent among women at every stage of life. Women face unique challenges at different stages of their lives due to various factors, including hormonal changes, societal expectations, and life experiences. It is essential for women to prioritize their mental health and seek support when necessary. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, seek help from a mental health professional and remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
