Mental Health Treatment, Access to

Most information about women's health has until recently focused on family planning, reproduction and parenting, but has overlooked mental well-being. Yet there is a mounting problem of mental ill health among women, and the need to promote healthy living has never been greater than today. Mental health disorders affect some 450 million people worldwide, interfering with their ability to lead productive and satisfying lives.

Men and women experience many of the same mental health issues, but there are some striking differences in their incidence, course, and treatment. A better understanding of gender dimensions of health will help to address the global health problem. Women's health and well-being is interconnected to other topics in this encyclopedia because gender differentials in healthcare stem from issues such as gender ...