When it comes to women’s mental health, there are some things we know.
We know that core elements of the mental health crisis disproportionately affect women, who experience higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders than men. And we know that women’s mental health is undervalued, underfunded and understudied; only 3% of health research is focused specifically on women’s health topics. Further, we know that there is an acute need for researchers, policymakers and businesses to prioritize women’s mental health.
But we don’t always know how to help support women’s mental health in our daily lives.
Recently, BMO Private Wealth hosted a breakfast conversation in Calgary, in partnership with womenmind, a community of philanthropists, thought leaders and scientists working with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation to close the gender gap in mental health. Moderator June Zimmer, BMO Private Wealth’s Regional President for Western Canada, set the stage: “We have a rich history at BMO of supporting women,” she said. “We know the future depends on more women feeling empowered.” Zimmer then led panelists Sandi Treliving, Director on the CAMH Foundation Board and founding funder of womenmind, Dr. Seema Parmar, Director of Health Intelligence and Insights on the Advisory Services team of non-profit academic medical centre Cleveland Clinic Canada, and Jenn Harper, founder of Indigenous-owned sustainable beauty brand Cheekbone Beauty, through an inspiring and instructive discussion.
Each woman on the panel shared candid stories about her own experiences before offering practical suggestions for supporting the mental health of women – whether they’re family, friends or colleagues. Here are three of their suggestions.
Understand the differences
Most people still have a lot to learn about women’s health and mental health, according to Dr. Seema Parmar. To start, many people aren’t aware that men and women experience mental health very differently for a range of reasons. “For example, at the intersection of physical and mental health, hormonal fluctuations can have a very unique impact on women,” Dr. Parmar explained. “It’s something that we all experience. We see variability in how we show up physically, how we look, how we feel, how we sleep and our moods.” This inconsistency due to hormonal changes is a big reason why women were historically excluded from clinical research, she added; moreover, it has created a stigma that makes a lot of women feel they have no choice but to suffer alone, even through periods of crisis.
The more people educate themselves about the causes, symptoms and circumstances surrounding women’s mental health, the more women will feel comfortable talking about it – and, crucially, asking for help. “We need to erase the shame,” Dr. Parmar said. “If we continue to hide and suppress this, we won’t learn what solutions are needed. And a lot of people won’t get the care they need.”
Use your influence
A recurrent theme in the conversation was the importance of removing the stigma surrounding women’s mental health and asking for help in the workplace. Jenn Harper spoke of her work to consciously put this into practice at Cheekbone Beauty. In the earliest days of the company, one of her top priorities was to create an environment where people felt fully comfortable sharing what they might be going through. “I made it my personal mission,” she explained.
Practically, this has meant educating herself about mental health at work, normalizing the fact that many people struggle with it and modelling vulnerability. Big feelings are welcome at Cheekbone Beauty; Harper has no qualms about crying at work when she is having a rough day, and considers it a point of pride that members of her team feel safe to do so, as well.
“I was raised by a generation where we were told to ‘suck it up’ or to ‘act like a man,’” she reflected. “I love that we’ve flipped that. We don’t have to do any of that at Cheekbone Beauty.”
In addition to creating workplaces where employees feel psychologically safe and supported, leaders can also calibrate how they respond to struggling women on their teams. For Harper, asking a simple question such as, “Do you need me to listen, or do you need a solution?” lets the individual know they’re supported and have agency.
Join the movement
The depth and breadth of the gender gap in mental health research and treatment can be startling. For instance, until very recently, women were routinely prescribed antidepressants and other medications that had never been tested on female subjects. It’s untenable, according to Sandi Treliving: “Now is the time to invest in ourselves. We have to do that research. We cannot continue to be treated with archaic means.”
But changing decades of flawed research and treatment processes can’t be done in isolation. That’s part of what attracted Treliving to get involved with womenmind. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has backed the hiring of women scientists to study women’s mental health, supported research grants, convened mentorship and leadership programs, and worked to raise awareness of the cause. In short, it’s connecting dots, facilitating better understanding – and getting attention.
“We want more women to join us as we learn,” Treliving said. “We are creating a movement. Because it’s time. It’s past time, really.”
Resources
Center for Addiction and Mental Health
CAMH womenmind
