{"id":18167,"date":"2021-05-10T13:00:44","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T12:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=18167"},"modified":"2023-01-16T12:03:11","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T12:03:11","slug":"why-womens-mental-health-is-in-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/why-womens-mental-health-is-in-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Women\u2019s Mental Health Is in Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, records show that COVID-19 has caused the deaths of 3.29 million people since the first case in 2019. While it does not directly infect the mind, the virus contributed to many things that globally caused mental health decline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As support services closed, financial pressures climbed, and social distancing measures tightened, many suffered mentally. Sadly, recent findings tell us that women’s mental health is most susceptible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> published by non-profit aid organisation CARE showed that women are three times more likely to report mental health issues than men. Symptoms tend to include: loss of appetite, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, the list goes on. As a result, women find it increasingly difficult to accomplish daily tasks.\u00a0<\/span>It’s time to consider the underlying causes of this unseen mental health crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Health and social sector risks<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to the World Health Organisation, women represent about 70% of health and social sector workers worldwide. This suggests they are more exposed to the the virus than men. On top of the increased risk, women earn less than their male colleagues in most cases in this industry. Most women do not even have strong financial protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Domestic burnout<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

At home, the strain continues as women are generally responsible for every activity in the house, including caregiving. When nurseries closed, findings showed that women often became even more accountable for the welfare of their children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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Why organisations should mind the pay gap<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t

The gender pay gap: what it is, how it happens, and what you can do to redress the balance.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\tRead the report<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n

Pandemic pregnancies\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the care of pregnant women and new mothers. First, there is a greater risk of pregnant women contracting the virus because of their heavy dependence on the healthcare<\/a> sector (especially those working in the sector themselves.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When hospitals become overburdened with the task of fighting off peaks of the virus, pregnant women suffer in vulnerable isolation - while carrying, during labour and as new mothers. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span><\/blockquote>\n

But there’s been a larger crisis at hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When hospitals become overburdened with the task of fighting off peaks of the virus, pregnant women suffer in vulnerable isolation \u2013 while carrying, during labour and as new mothers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In many countries, pregnant women admitted to a hospital with COVID-19 patients are documented and kept for surveys. In the UK,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>data<\/span><\/a> from 427 pregnant women collected in May 2020 showed that most who became critically ill were in the third trimester of their pregnancy. Therefore, it became crucial for pregnant women to pay attention to social distancing rules from the seventh month of pregnancy. The study also revealed that some pregnant women were more likely to develop critical health issues:<\/span><\/p>\n