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The COVID Crisis and Women’s Mental Health: A Call to Action

Women’s Mental Health has been more affected by the Covid-19 pandemic than men, both as frontline workers and at home, despite the fact that the mortality rate for men has been twice as high as for women. People had to adjust to seeing their loved ones less frequently and spending less time outside all over the world. There was also an impact of covid-19 on women’s employment. Since cabin fever has been such a major problem, many people have disclosed that their anxiety levels have skyrocketed. But according to a recent study, the pandemic has triggered a crisis in women’s mental health.

“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”

– John Green

The Health Capital brings you this blog in order to highlight the societal issues that women face on a day-to-day basis that has deteriorated and caused women’s mental health issues along with some Self-care tips for women with depression. Women and mental health are both delicate and sensitive subjects and protecting each must be a priority for all. 

The adverse consequences on women’s mental health more than males

Throughout their lives, women confront particular difficulties, particularly during family planning, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. Women’s mental health was affected as a result of having to quickly adjust to the additional obstacles posed by the epidemic in addition to the pressures that come with this period of life. Intimate partner violence had also dramatically increased, which puts women at an even higher risk of developing women’s mental health issues.

A significant factor in the high levels of stress experienced by women, who are disproportionately responsible for providing the majority of child and elder care in their families, is parental stress. In a situation where schools were closed, women were juggling a job and household duties and therefore, women and mental health were intertwined tightly. 

In response, the federal and state governments have provided additional financing, including monies for women’s mental health organisations, to preserve optimal mental health and treat mental health concerns. However, it is crucial to recognise that COVID-19 has only served to exacerbate an already prevalent trend. Prior to COVID, women and mental health were very much in the news, and the majority of mental health prevention initiatives or services for people with mental challenges did not adequately address the particular risk factors or barriers to care that are specific to women.

Reorienting the Domestic sphere to relieve burdens and avoid Women’s Mental Health Issues

Lockdowns and self-quarantine tactics had increased women’s burden globally as more individuals were confined to their homes for extended periods of time and caregiving responsibilities had grown. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Indian women perform daily unpaid care work for close to six hours.

Contrarily, Indian males spend, on average, less than an hour doing the same. Women undertake 76.2% of all hours of unpaid care work globally. The virus pandemic was preventing 300 million children from attending school worldwide, which increased women’s mental health issues.

This does not mean that women cannot work in the caring field. In truth, when it comes to caring for children and other close dependents, many women adore and prefer these activities. The reality is that a woman who asks openly for time off or assistance with household tasks will, at best, be met with criticism and, at worst, will be subjected to emotional or physical assault.

This is especially upsetting for women during various stages of their lives, including perimenopause and menopause, pregnancy and the period immediately following childbirth, painful menstruation, and more. Lack of domestic and emotional support can have long-term effects on women and mental health can deteriorate because they are already susceptible owing to significant bodily changes, unforeseen health problems, and discomfort.

Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s Employment

Due to the unfavourable attitudes of women in authority, women in leadership roles are more prone to experience “depression, social friction, and isolation.” This is crucial once again since those in leadership roles have greater socioeconomic standing and better income control. However, because of their gender, these factors are more likely to produce problems with women’s mental health.

The enormous influx of women into the workforce is a relatively recent event, and cultural views have not yet caught up with this change. Although there are still some insurmountable obstacles to achievement as well as challenging juggling acts, workplaces may be a hugely beneficial reinforcement for many women’s intelligence, independent identity, and financial self-sufficiency. The prevalence of “mom guilt,” which refers to moms’ feelings of inadequacy or having to divide their time between raising children and other responsibilities, should cause some level of social embarrassment for women and mental health is thus harmed for those individuals as well.

Work from home, flex work, and other forms of workplace participation are not only feasible, but they can also be fruitful, as the impact of covid-19 on women’s employment. Dismantling the masculine default at work and implementing policies and practises that are welcoming, sympathetic, and accepting of equitable lifestyles for both genders are crucial. Women shouldn’t be required to demonstrate their ability to be effective and devoted employers while also receiving little assistance in managing household obligations in order to treat mental health holistically.

Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of Health Care Workers

According to studies, between 20 and 37 per cent of healthcare workers developed depressive symptoms and between 23 and 46 per cent of them reported experiencing anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The heightened stress brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic has undoubtedly had a negative effect on the health and well-being of healthcare professionals. The ambiguity surrounding when the COVID-19 outbreak would be brought under control caused healthcare personnel the most stress, but self-death from COVID-19 was the least of their worries.

Sexual, Emotional, and Physical abuse’s effects affecting Women and Mental Health

Unfortunately, not everyone feels safe at home. The fact that many women are alone at home with violent husbands has been one of the most tragic negative outcomes of self-quarantine. Following the virus epidemic, domestic violence instances have increased in China and a number of other nations. Since the start of the nationwide lockdown, the National Commission for Women (NCW) in India has also issued a notice concerning an increase in domestic abuse cases.

According to a survey by “Stop Street Harassment,” 81% of the women polled reported experiencing sexual harassment at work as well as at home. This has a negative impact on the mood of other female coworkers as well, raising concerns about their safety, changing how people view women in the workplace, and frequently even influencing hiring decisions. According to the findings, 66% of the women who responded to the poll stated they had experienced some kind of harassment in a public setting. It is disheartening that women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing trauma.

Therefore, the effects of abuse extend beyond the women who experience it to the women who often hear about it in the news. Given how rape is presented in the media and how society reacts, it is understandable why women internalise so many self-blaming justifications for it. Although addressing the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) will take time, we must make an active effort to do so every day. To help women recover from the trauma of abuse, whether direct or vicarious, we must strengthen and maintain peer-support groups for survivors of violence in the near term. To do this, we must include men in the discussion.

Self-Care Tips for Women with Depression

The more you neglect your needs and self-care, such as getting enough rest, eating wholesome meals, and relaxing, the worse your symptoms of depression may get. While you should seek out a mental health professional for support and treatment choices, establishing regular Self-care tips for women with depression can also significantly improve your ability to manage your day-to-day life. Think about implementing these self-care techniques for your first few steps:

  • Start an exercise regimen.
  • Fight Back Against Negative Thoughts 
  • Consistently Consume Nutritious Foods 
  • Obtain Enough Sleep 
  • Consume Lots of Water 
  • Introduce Change in Routine
  • Laugh a lot
  • Help someone in need

The World Health Organization issued advice on how to deal with women’s mental health as things started to alter as a result of the pandemic. They included minimising the amount of time spent reading the news and refraining from taking drugs as a coping method. Nobody, however, could have foreseen how Covid-19 would affect women’s mental health. One of the largest differences they identified in their research was that 27% of women reported that issues related to mental illness had gotten worse, compared to 10% of males.

They determined that stress and worries about food, work, and health care were caused in many cases by the exponential increase in unpaid domestic labour. Additionally, women were almost twice as likely to say that the epidemic had made it more difficult for them to receive the high-quality medical treatment they required.

Self-care tips for women with depression - the health capital

Talk with Experts at The Health Capital

According to the WHO, women and mental health are closely intertwined. Both equality and discrimination are to their advantage. Numerous millions of women over the world still have tragically low status and well-being. The message is obvious: We have neglected women’s mental health for far too long. Women’s mental health is a widespread issue, although it is socially and culturally stigmatised.

Blindsiding this fact would be too expensive. The first step to bringing about policy changes is acknowledgement. The Health Capital is acknowledging women and mental health issues altogether. Our experts are here to lend you a hand, heart and ear. Schedule a consultation with your best mental health consultant in town.

FAQ’s

  1. 1. How do hormones influence women's mental health?

    Hormone levels and women's mental health are intimately correlated, according to research. The adrenal glands' stress-inducing hormones, such as cortisol, can cause us to feel anxious. Cortisol levels are likely to be greater in stressed individuals. Dopamine and serotonin, which support healthy mood, sleep, and digestion, are inhibited by this hormone.

  2. 2. What can be done to support the mental health of women during the COVID-19 pandemic?

    It is advised to either keep current routines or establish new ones in order to support women's mental health. The methods for Self-care tips for women with depression include: sleeping and waking up at comparable times each day, exercising frequently, designating particular times to work and relax, eating healthily, regular meals, and upholding personal hygiene.

  3. 3. What are the impact of covid-19 on women's employment?

    The impact of covid-19 on women's employment was deeply mortifying. More women were leaving the workforce and falling into poverty as a result of wage inequity and the burden of unpaid care thus aiding to even more women and mental health issues. Even before the pandemic, women's earning income in India was just one-fifth that of men. More women had lost their jobs during COVID-19 both globally and in India aiding to a major impact of covid-19 on women's employment.

  4. 4. How do you overcome mental stress during the Covid pandemic?

    Women and mental health issues have been long prominent and here are some tips from The Health Capital that can help one overcome stress during the COVID pandemic. 

    a.Take breaks from reading the news, especially social media news. Information is important, but hearing often about bad things can be upsetting.
    b. Take good care of yourself: Your emotional health can be enhanced by maintaining physical health.
    c. Drink in moderation. On days when you consume alcohol, decide whether to abstain or drink moderately.
    d. Maintain your usual schedule of checkups, examinations, screenings, and vaccines.
    e. Schedule some downtime.

  5. 5. How to cope with anxiety as a woman?

    It is extremely important to note some Self-care tips for women with depression. Women are God's creations; they are strong and courageous, yet they do require constant extra care in order to shine bright. Here are some Self-care tips for women with depression and anxiety that you must follow. 

    a. Workout: To get rid of extra adrenaline, a hormone created in response to stress.
    b. Increasing your awareness of your thoughts and feelings is known as mindfulness.
    c. Encourage yourself and elevate your mood with positive affirmations.

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