The Role of Gender in Mental Health

Mental Health and Gender

Mental health issues are quite common in America, with about 1 in 4 adults living with a diagnosable condition each year. While men and women have nearly identical overall rates of mental illness, there are noticeable gender differences in disease prevalence, course and outlook for certain mental conditions. A host of complex variables can affect mental health and gender statistics; environmental factors like social support, economic status and cultural expectations can all differ by gender and influence the risk of certain mental illnesses. Additionally, biological differences between each sex may affect the course and severity of certain conditions. Here are some common mental health issues that have striking gender disparities.

Reviewed by: 
Review Date: 
April 11, 2014

Citation: 
Last Updated:
July 1, 2014