Investing in women's mental health : strengthening the foundations for women, families and the Australian economy

Abstract

"Evidence shows that certain mental illnesses are more prevalent in women, that women use mental health<br/ >services more frequently than men, and that women would like a broader range of treatment options than are<br/ >available currently. It is an undisputed fact that women's mental health needs are significantly different from<br/ >those of men and therefore require different responses. To date, the insights from evidence have mostly not<br/ >been translated into mainstream health policy or practice. Lack of recognition of gender at policy level and in<br/ >the provision of services is tantamount to ignoring critical factors in both the development and progression<br/ >of diseases and in developing effective, preventative interventions, diagnoses and treatments. This has serious<br/ >implications for the health of the nation, contributing to sub-optimal outcomes of mental health treatment<br/ >for women, notwithstanding increasing investment in services of all kinds in recent years. "