Mental Health

Did you know the change in seasons can bring on a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, SAD is diagnosed four times more often in women than men. To learn more about SAD and how women can manage it, we talked to Dr. Yael Nillni.

Content warning: Suicide

Suicide is a serious problem, and the rate of suicide among women is on the rise. People who consider suicide often feel like there is no hope, and they may often feel trapped or alone. We spoke with Dr. Danielle Johnson, Chief of Adult Psychiatry and Director of the Women’s Mental Health Program at Lindner Center of HOPE, to discuss suicide and what women should do if they’re having suicidal thoughts. She also talks about risk factors, warning signs, and how to support loved ones.

As Men’s Health Month comes to a close, I want to talk about something that we don’t talk about enough: men and depression. While it’s not exactly a women’s health topic, our typical focus at the Office on Women’s Health, we know that most women have important men in their lives. Fathers, partners, sons, brothers, uncles, and friends. Their health matters to us. They’re why we need to have a conversation about mental health — because I worry they’re not talking about it enough.

We know the statistics: Based on the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, among high school students who dated or went out with someone, about 1 in 8 girls and 1 in 13 boys reported that they experienced physical dating violence during the 12 months before the survey. Additionally, about 1 in 6 girls and 1 in 18 boys reported that they experienced sexual dating violence.

Gayathri Ramprasad is a mental health advocate who has faced her share of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Today, she is the founder and president of a nonprofit aimed at helping others with mental health issues. Read Gayathri’s interview to learn why she’s dedicated her life to helping others, what she wants women to know about mental health, and how you can help fight the stigma around mental health issues.

Women are the fastest-growing group of military veterans in the U.S., and they have unique health care needs. And women vets are taking steps to address those needs head-on.

Depression is more than feeling blue or down for a few days. It’s a real illness that can impact a person’s day-to-day life. Millions of Americans have depression, and it’s more common among women than men. Former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams is one of those women. She shares what depression feels like to her, why she decided to get help, and how she’s learned to manage her depression.

September 10–16 was National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it is the only top-10 cause of death that has increased every year for the past decade. In the United States, there were 41,149 suicides in 2013, which is about 113 suicides every day or one every 13 minutes.

From serving in a war zone to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to becoming Ms. Veteran America 2016, Molly Mae Potter shares her story about being in the Air Force and then transitioning to civilian life. She opens up about her experiences with PTSD and the role her family's dog, Bella, played in her healing. Read her interview to learn what it was like being a woman in the military, when she was diagnosed with and finally got treatment for PTSD, and her thoughts on how others can support women veterans.

Each National Women’s Health Week, we encourage women to pay attention to their mental health. What does that mean to you? We asked Dr. Keisha Downey, a National Women’s Health Week ambassador and psychologist. She offers her tips for staying mentally healthy, plus insights about when to get help.

Dr. Keisha Downey is a psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and mental health and relationship expert.