The stigma behind women's mental healthcare: what you can do

Not so fun fact: In Ancient Greece, it was believed that if a woman’s womb wasn't continuously impregnated, the uterus (which in Greek is “hystera”) would wander the body and cause mental health problems. Eventually the term "hysteria" was used as a catch-all diagnosis to discredit the struggles of women... Yes, seriously!

It wasn't until 1980 when “hysteria” was finally removed from the diagnostic manual. After centuries of misdiagnosis and mistreatment, the topic of women’s mental health has slowly but surely lessened in stigma as research has caught up with reality.

The good fight isn’t over, though. Unfortunately women's struggles are often discredited or overlooked as a symptom of their sex. The disadvantage in women's mental health cannot only be seen in the professional world, but also in their personal lives. Disgruntled exes everywhere can still be heard summing up their failed relationships with "she's crazy." *cue the eye rolls*

In the wake of this new movement to improve women's mental healthcare, it is important that we stand up and raise our voices in support of our community. Oppression, societal expectations, pervasive body image ideals in media, postpartum depression, hormonal imbalance - these are just a handful of debilitating issues that have monumental impacts on a woman's quality of life.

So, what now? Talk about it. Extend a message of support to a woman in your life. Throw a tomato (real, metaphorical or emoji version) next time you hear someone calling a woman crazy. Change demands action, but even the smallest of conversations can create a larger impact.

Women’s mental health is a topic that is important not only to us at Forward, but especially to Lisa Everhart, our psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s health and has a passion for standing up for women. Lisa is committed to getting to know her clients and tailoring her practice to their individual needs.

It’s your turn to take the next step in seeking out the answers that so many women before us were refused. And we might just know someone (ahem- Lisa!) who could help you embark on this journey. And don't forget to let other women know there is support available! Together, we can make a huge difference in the de-stigmatization of mental health.