Mental Health Treatment, Bias in

Mental health is traditionally defined in terms of emotional well-being and an absence of mental illness. More recent perspectives take a holistic approach that considers how social and cultural variables, such as gender, interact with health. It is important to consider gender for several reasons. Mental disorders are the result of a complex interaction between biological, psychological and social factors, of which gender plays an important role. There is a mounting problem of mental ill health among women, which interferes with their ability to lead productive and satisfying lives. There is a gender bias in access to health services, diagnosis of mental health disorders, treatment seeking behavior, treatment outcomes, etc. A better understanding of these issues will help to promote good mental health among women ...