416 Mental Health
Common
Causes of
Mental
Health
Problems in
Women
➤ To have better
mental health, women
need to have more
control and power
over their lives.
➤ It is easy not to
notice the stress in
daily life because it
is always there. But
it takes a lot of a
woman’s energy to
cope with this kind
of stress.
Not everyone who has to cope with the problems listed
below will develop a mental health problem. Rather, a woman
usually develops a mental health problem when these
pressures are stronger than her ability to cope. Also, not all
mental health problems have causes that can be identified.
Sometimes we just do not know why someone develops a
mental health problem.
Stress in daily life
Daily activities and events often put pressure on a woman,
causing tension in her body and mind (stress). Stress can
come from physical problems, like illness or overwork. Or it
can come from emotional events, like conflict in the family
or being blamed for problems that a woman has no control
over. Even events that often bring pleasure—like a new
baby or getting a job—can be stressful because they create
changes in a woman’s life.
caring for children
meetingneheudssband’s
getting water, fuel
Most women
have many
kinds of stress
pressuring them
from all sides.
cleaning
caring for the sick
too little money
farming or working
too little food
When a woman faces a lot of stress every
day and for a long time, she may begin to
feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. The
problem may be made worse if she has
been taught to take care of others first and
neglects her own needs. With little time to
rest or to enjoy things that could help reduce
her stress, she may ignore signs of illness or
overwork. And as a woman, she may have
little power to change her situation.
Do I really
have a
nervous
condition?
Often a woman is made to feel that she
is weak or ill. But the real problem may be
something that is not fair or not right in life.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012