Mental Illness, Incidence Rates of

Economic, legal and environmental factors combine with cultural and individual aspects to place women at greater risk of mental disorders in every country around the world. Women of color and sexual minorities face even greater risks for mental disorders due to racism and discrimination. Poverty and interpersonal violence are some of the risk factors for mental disorders that women face at greater rates than men, even in developed and wealthy nations.

Mental disorders result from a combination of biological, psychological and social factors in ways that are not yet well understood. Regardless of cause, the more stressors one has, the more likely one is to develop a mental disorder and the more severe the disorder is likely to be. This means that any disadvantaged group in ...