It is well-acknowledged that the prevalence of mental disorders is higher in women than in men. Theoretical approaches attribute the disparities, largely to social and cultural factors and a gender bias that disfavors women. This essay will begin by exploring the role of gender discrimination as a cause of osteopathic disorders among women and then discuss how this impacts their substance use disorder risk. The consequences of gender discrimination lead to low self-esteem, depression, and increased risk of suicide among women. Women may also face internalized oppression as a result of race and gender discrimination, leading to eating disorders that are higher in women. The prevalence rates for anorexia were found to be 3 times higher in women than men.
The effect of gender discrimination on mental health is not limited to just the basis of internal strains. Gender discrimination has serious impacts on people’s physical and socio-emotional well-being as well. For example, researchers have found that women who are victims of gender discrimination are less effective in dealing with their breast cancer diagnosis. They also have higher fear levels and anxiety towards their illness, and poorer physical health. This is due to the increased stress and strain that gender discrimination puts them under. Sexism, in the form of gender discrimination, inevitably affects women’s mental well-being. This relates directly to women’s reproductive health and substance abuse. There is a significant relationship between gender discrimination and mental health among males as well.
Research has looked at various indicators of mental health, such as happiness levels and self-esteem. The results have shown that almost half of women reported discriminatory experiences in the workplace. Discriminatory behaviors ranged from being talked over at meetings to being told they could not do a job because it was “men’s work”. Women who experience sexual discrimination are more likely to develop alcohol disorders. In a recent study conducted on women, college graduates were evaluated concerning marital status, income, educational level, and race. The study revealed that negative emotional responses were strongly associated with alcohol abuse in women. If women could not defend themselves against discrimination either at home or work they were four times more likely to drink than others.
Mental health treatment starts by addressing the underlying reasons why people develop problems and symptoms in the first place. We examine everything from childhood trauma to the accumulation of life stresses, to biochemical imbalances in the brain. It’s important to look at the underlying causes to address as many problems as possible with a single treatment program. If a woman develops mental health problems, due to certain factors such as substance abuse, it may lead to the development of a mental illness as their physical and mental health becomes compromised. For example, women fail to get adequate treatment for mental health disorders when comparing men and women. This could be because they don’t have the support or have not been informed about available services.