Health | Does gender play a role in our wellbeing?

Mental wellbeing 

We know that gender differences are prevalent in common mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. These disorders affect one in three people worldwide and many more women are diagnosed than men. 

However, we also know that three in four suicides are by men. It is shocking that suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 35. Men are also three times more likely than women to become alcohol dependent and are more likely to use and die from illegal drugs (The Men’s Forum.) 

Does this mean that men’s mental wellbeing is worse than women’s? Not necessarily. 

However, it does mean that gender plays an important role in defining our ability to be at risk, be diagnosed and then be treated for mental health problems. The World Health Organisation went as far as to say that gender is “a critical determinant of mental health and mental illness.”