originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:24 PM

I can post! Hooray! Haha, hi everyone!

 

Have you ever encountered a female stereotype about mental health? How did you react to it?

I've had a few people assume that if I'm mad or am crying I must be on my period, which is really frustrating! I'm not sure if it's female-specific but I think "take a chill pill" and "can't you take a joke?" comments seem to be made towards women more often.

 

@Ben-RO that's a really good point about anger - I hadn't thought of that.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:30 PM

Hooray you can post! Welcome @lokifish! 

Do you think these stereotypes can be harmful for women? In what ways?

I think that any time you decide a group of people are all the same it's a big problem, and that's of course a big part of the recipe for a sterotype. When we make generalisations, we stop paying attention to individuals! Everyone is different, everyone experiences things differently, learns differently and heals differently. Remembering that is even more imporant in mental health and helping people get well. Sterotypes get in the way of that process.  

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:31 PM

Also I want to add that all stereotypes reduce a person to a one-dimensional character. They don't consider that everyone's unique which is obviously pretty harmful

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:29 PM

Do you think these stereotypes can be harmful for women? In what ways?

Absolutely. It can make women think nobody is going to take their issues or concerns seriously, which makes them less likely to seek help. It probably also makes women value themselves less - thinking that they're some kind of lesser person who is just controlled by their hormones and isn't capable of thinking/acting for themselves.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:37 PM

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@lokifish wrote:

It probably also makes women value themselves less - thinking that they're some kind of lesser person who is just controlled by their hormones and isn't capable of thinking/acting for themselves.

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Hitting the nail on the head! It's ironic because there's another stereotype or common statement floating around that women are more likely to step forward or to talk about their general health & well-being 

 

@MsHarry Welcome welcome! Awesome to have you here  It really does throw a spanner in the works when you and other people around you start to doubt if your concerns are legit 

 

Gee, I'm really shovelling up these household tools haha. 

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:42 PM

@Myvo Here, I got you a present 😛

 

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:45 PM

Great point about the media @MsHarry. I also think age has something to do with it. I remember in early high school people were really judgemental, but as we all got older the stereotyping and dismissal became a little less common.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:48 PM

Thanks @lokifish 

 

This'll look great with my costume: 

 

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:50 PM

We're talked about this for a bit already, but here's our next question!

 

4. How can we break down these stereotypes?

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:53 PM

4. How can we break down these stereotypes?

 

As I've said as much publicity as possible.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:00 PM

How can we break down these stereotypes?

 

Support and advocate for changes to the treatment of women's mental health in our community..

 

We could address the risk factors that specifically impact on women, like workplace discrimination, domestic violence, equality in the educational setting, poverty, and single parenthood.

 

Wouldn't it be great to also see treatment facilities and services tailored more to the needs of women?

 

I guess we can start by making an awesome impact starting from our own small circle - 

 

Create small ripples that have a flow-on effect!! And NEVER give up the cause!

 

Let's Go girls!! 🙂

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:03 PM

@bushtakka Don't feel bad for being a little behind! Your responses are really interesting and insightful 🙂

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:02 PM

Oops I'm a little behind the ball lol - typing a bit slow tonight 😉

Interesting points and discussion..

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:11 PM

Do you know of any mental health issues that are specific to women, or are more common in women?

 

As a woman I am very much aware of gender differences whilst growing up - and most of the time it doesn't bother me, as I love being a woman!! And I do enjoy boys being boys, and the perks that come with being a woman. 

 

Hope that doesn't sound sexist or conservative or out-dated, I'd rather was hoping it showed how content I am with who I am, which i think we all strive for - that self-acceptance. 

 

What's a real bug-bear though, are the silent expectations on women in society - the roles they SHOULD be playing: being the feminine one, i.e. the 'listener', the 'capable housewife/daughter/mother/girlfriend/business partner' etc, and all the while juggling not only society's expectations but also her own aspirations and the pressure she feels from all that.

 

I wonder whether the fact that women are diagnosed more often with anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders is a direct reflection of those expectations and stereo-types?

 

***Just Be Yourself!!!***

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:17 PM

@bushtakka Preach! That's so true - gosh, I hate it when people claim what a woman is meant to do, say or be. It's ridiculous on so many levels. 

 

What do I say about this? I say: 

 

 

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:19 PM

Gosh, loving the chat so far! 

 

Moving onto our next question: 

6. How do you think experiences of mental health/illness can be different for women?

 

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:22 PM

How do you think experiences of mental health/illness can be different for women?

Fortunately women are more likely to seek help for their problems so one could argue we have a slightly better experience than men. That's not to say there aren't barriers to overcome, but women-specific services (e.g. women's shelters) are generally more established than men-specific services which have only popped up in the last few years.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:32 PM

Sorry, my head is just full of so many ideas and I keep going off on tangents and I'm trying to rein it in and .. yeah.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:31 PM

I think women receive less judgements for seeking help, probably has something to do with womanhood and how we are more accepting of mental illnesses. Don't get me wrong, we can be bitches to each other.

Guys just think we are PMS'ing all the time! Which is kind of ironic when you think about it. I mean our hormones are more or less similar to men when we are menstruating.

Which I guess makes men think we are using our periods as scapegoats and blaming everything on our reproductive system. When in actual fact it has nothing to do with it.

originally posted on 31-08-2015 9:28 PM

@lokifish That's an interesting observation on how women's services have grown significantly and have become more established over time. 

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:52 PM

How can we break down these stereotypes?

What's already been mentioned: calling people out when they say something inappropriate, having better media representation and research into the area. I think we also need to build emotional resillience in girls from a young age - schools and parents have a big role to play in this 🙂

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:47 PM

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@lokifish wrote:

Great point about the media @MsHarry. I also think age has something to do with it. I remember in early high school people were really judgemental, but as we all got older the stereotyping and dismissal became a little less common.

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Maybe some people just never grow up!

originally posted on 31-08-2015 8:26 PM

Heya @lokifish!

 

Awesome to have you here tonight for our chat! 

 

The whole 'Are you on your rag?' thing is so stupid. It's basically insulting your body to somehow claim that the 'hormones' are making you 'act up'.