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Good mental health is essential to the overall health of both men and women, but women experience some of the most common mental health problems, including depression and anxiety disorders at higher rates than men. We know that one in five women will experience depression at some stage of their life (compared with one in eight men) and one in three women will experience an anxiety disorder (compared with one five men).

While similar factors may contribute to mental health problems developing in women and men, some are more likely to affect women, and hence increase the risk of depression and anxiety.  Some life events such as pregnancy and having a baby significantly increase the likelihood of developing depression and anxiety.  Understanding the risks and knowing the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders can help you to recognise them in yourself or in others.

Likelihood of developing a mental illness: Women versus Men

[Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Mental Health in Australia 2007]

Depression

People with depression find it hard to function every day and don't enjoy activities that they used to enjoy. Depression has serious effects on both physical and mental health.  You may be experiencing depression if, for more than two weeks, you have felt sad, down or miserable most of the time or lost pleasure in activities you usually enjoy.  Common behaviours, thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms of depression may include:

• not getting things done at home or work,
• stopped going out, engaging in activities you used to enjoy
• withdrawing from others
• feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless
• sleep problems and/or feeling tired all the time and
• difficulties concentrating.

Anxiety

Most people feel anxious sometimes but for many these anxious feelings are overwhelming, cannot be brought under control easily and impact on a person’s ability to cope from day to day. It's at this point that it may be referred to as an anxiety disorder.  Having an anxiety disorder is different from feeling stressed – which generally passes on its own after the stressful event has passed.  There are a range of different types of anxiety disorders including:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - people who have GAD feel anxious on most days for at least six months.
• Phobia - feeling very fearful about particular objects or situations
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - OCD is when people have ongoing unwanted and intrusive thoughts and fears that cause anxiety - often called obsessions. These obsessions make people feel they need to carry out certain rituals in order to feel less anxious and these are known as compulsions.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - involves bursts of anxiety that happen after a person experiences a major emotional shock following a stressful event.
• Panic Disorder - a panic attack is an intense feeling of anxiety that seems like it cannot be brought under control.  If a person has a panic attack at least four times a month, they may be diagnosed as having a panic disorder. Around 3 per cent of the population has a panic disorder.

Like depression, the likelihood of an anxiety disorder is greater if you have a personal or family history of anxiety.  Things that may contribute to an anxiety disorder include genetics or a stressful event. Anxiety disorders are not the same as depression although the two conditions share many causes and some symptoms.

It’s important to remember that depression and anxiety are more than just a low mood or temporary feelings of stress or uneasiness.  Depression and anxiety can develop into serious illnesses for which effective treatments are available.

Keeping healthy

The key to keeping yourself mentally healthy is learning about the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, recognising the signs and getting help early.  As women, it’s important we monitor how we are travelling and not to blame ourselves for everything that goes wrong. We need to remember to look at things realistically and make sure we pay attention to our our mental and physical health as well as our families and friends.

If your current patterns of thinking aren’t helping to improve your situation then it’s important to seek support especially if you have been through stressful events. You don’t have to speak to a health professional in the first instance you could try confiding in trusted friends or your partner.

Although depression and anxiety are common, effective treatments are available and with the right treatment, most people recover.

Nicole is a Premium member of Business Chicks, request her online business card and connect with her here

Stay tuned next week for Part 2, where Nicole will discuss depression and anxiety in the workplace and how both employers and employees can help prevent and identify mental health conditions. 

Dr Nicole Highet is the Deputy CEO of beyondblue.  Nicole has a Doctorate in clinical psychology together with expertise in marketing, advertising and research.