Delaying treatment for a mental health problem is said to be common among women. This reluctance can be explained by the way these problems are perceived by their family and friends.
- Women are waiting more than a year for the mental health treatment they need: survey
- Depression affects twice as many women as men
‘Just need a break’ or ‘try harder’ is what majority of women say when they feel overwhelmed instead of seeing a doctor, according to a news report survey conducted for the Gensite.com website.
Indeed, women often feel pressured to “hold on” and not admit they’re struggling, says Dr. Betty Jo “BJ” Fancher, Physician Assistant in Family Medicine and Psychiatry, who holds a Ph.D. in medical sciences and a master’s degree in psychopharmacology. “Yet, if you’re sobbing on your shower floor, throwing things in anger, or repeatedly screaming into a pillow, these are signals that you’ve crossed a line and are should see a mental health provider“, underlines the doctor.
They wait a year
This limit, two out of three women suffering from depression or anxiety say they have reached it, but more than half of them wait a year before seeking treatment. And four out of ten women without a diagnosis of depression or anxiety say they have reached it or are in the process of reaching it.
However, this breaking point can have a negative impact or a significant pressure on all aspects of life, whether it is social life, caring for loved ones or professional obligations.
“Pregnant women do not go a year without prenatal care to protect their health or that of their baby. Why live with a mental health issue that can impact every aspect of your life until you reach a breaking point?asks Rachael Earls, PhD, medical science liaison at Myriad Genetics, maker of the GeneSight test that provides personalized genetic information and helps understand how patients may metabolize or respond to certain drugs commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other mental disorders.
According to this survey, only 30% of women who have been prescribed psychiatric drugs are aware of the existence of genetic tests that can help their doctor make prescribing decisions – and only 8% of these respondents underwent genetic testing.
Ignored or rejected
Among the explanations offered for this reluctance to seek treatment, six in ten women surveyed with depression or anxiety say they have been ignored or rejected by their family, friends and/or partner about their mental health problems.
In fact, less than half of women (44%) say they talk to their friends or family to relieve their stress and anxiety. Their fear is that their concerns will be ignored or invalidated.
Also according to the survey, the main reasons why women diagnosed with depression or anxiety delayed their treatment were:
“I thought it was ‘just a phase’ or that I could manage on my own” (60%).
“I didn’t want anyone to know that I was battling illness” (50%)
“I didn’t want to take medication” (31%)
“I couldn’t afford treatment” (26%)
“I had no health insurance” (19%)
“I didn’t have time to seek treatment” (18%)
Despite the treatment options available, fewer than two in ten women believe they will ever be able to free themselves from the symptoms of anxiety or depression.
