2023-08-08 19:00:03
The workload added to the unpaid activities carried out at home makes workers more likely to suffer stress.
According to the UNAM, mental illnesses represent 18% of the total burden of diseases; however, in Mexico only 2.1% of the entire health budget is assigned to it.
Lack of time is the main reason why women avoid asking for help or seeing a mental health professional.
To talk about full well-being it is necessary to address all aspects of life. The big mistake that is made is to think that the health only consists of the physical part because the mental aspect is left aside and even in the case of women there are greater risks. When any of the parts fails, an imbalance is generated and marks the beginning of various problems.
With this in mind, the article Why talk about gender and mental health? de Luciana Ramos-Lira states that women are more likely than men to suffer from depression and anxiety. While both predispose the onset of heart disease and diabetes, among many others.
In this context, the Mexican Association of Pharmaceutical Research Industries (AMIIF)within the framework of the Alliance for Fair and Timely Health for Women in Mexico, held the forum “Economic and Social Impact of Mental Health on Women: A Pending Agenda”. The forum put relevant data on the table, areas of opportunity that still exist in terms of public policy, as well as recommendations and proposals for more equitable access to mental health for women.
The experts agreed on the need to generate public programs that address the mental health of women at different stages of life. In addition, early childhood, adolescence and older adults should be considered essential, as they are the most vulnerable age groups, according to statistics.
In her speech, Dr. María Elena Medina-Mora Icaza, director of the Faculty of Psychology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)stated that financing is a relevant factor for women’s mental health care.
“The burden of mental illness means 18% of the global burden of all diseases. However, only 2.1% of the entire health budget is allocated to it, far below the real needs for care”.
On the need to provide better care for women’s mental health, Christopher Thompsonexecutive director of the AMIIF, emphasized that it is necessary to have specific information that provides a more realistic picture of this problem, to raise awareness and raise the issue to the public policy discussion.
Inequity in access to mental health
According to figures from National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) In the year 2021, within the labor market, women earned 34% less than men. This, together with the double or triple working day, favors the Burnout syndrome or work stress. In 2021, 8 out of 10 Mexican women suffered from it, which increases their chances of suffering from a physical illness and affecting their professional development.
More investment needed
Discussing solutions to make it easier for women to access mental health care, Dennis Ostwald, founder and director of the WifOR Institute, said the game has changed during the pandemic and now it’s important to think about return on investment. in health.
“We need to make precise measurements of how the pandemic increased the social cost of mental health in women and we must attack this problem. Especially in Mexico, we need to analyze where to invest more in health, considering mental health, and provide evidence regarding the return on said investment, especially in women”.
Also read:
Consequences of sexism on women’s mental health
Breastfeeding: Main reasons why women abandon this practice
National Health Card 2023: These are its main changes
#Mental #health #women #pending #issue #Mexico