Depression and Anxiety

While all people feel worried or down from time to time, depressive and anxiety disorders can severely impair a person’s ability to carry on with their normal, daily life.

Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with both anxiety and depression compared to their male counterparts. These conditions often exist at the same time, making it an especially important issue for women’s health. This inequity is linked to a mix of biological, social, and cultural factors that contribute to higher distress in women. 

Major risk factors for both anxiety and depression include Adverse Childhood Experiences (see ACEs Reported) and sexual or domestic violence (see Sexual Violence, Intimate Partner Violence), all of which women are more likely to experience in their lifetime. Homelessness and incarceration also increase the likelihood of developing anxiety and/or depression (see Female Incarceration, Women Experiencing Poverty). These risk factors are especially prevalent in Oklahoma, which has one of the highest rates of female incarceration, domestic violence, and ACE’s compared to other states.

Changes in hormone levels throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle and reproductive life have been found to increase risk for developing anxiety/depression. Hormonal fluctuations, combined with increased social pressures that emerge during puberty, may partially explain higher rates of poor mental health among adolescent girls compared to their male peers. Into adulthood, women often experience poor mental health in the form of postpartum depression after a pregnancy (see Postpartum Depression) or during perimenopause/menopause. The unique biological risk factors present for women highlights a need to prioritize mental health diagnoses and treatment at every stage of life.

These conditions have serious impacts on physical and emotional wellbeing. Women living with them face a greater risk of developing heart disease and substance use disorder, and are more likely to attempt suicide than those without. 

Despite the seriousness of mental disorders, significant barriers to care persist (see Access to Mental Health Services). Nationally, more than half of women reporting fair or poor mental health in 2024 did not obtain mental health services. Common barriers for women include difficulty finding a provider, being unable to take time off of work or pause caregiving responsibilities, cost of treatment, and fear/stigma. 

Mental health disparities are present even among women themselves.  Those who are: multiracial or indigenous, disabled, uninsured, veterans, identify as LGBTQ+, have low educational attainment, or live in lower-income households are all at higher risk for depression/anxiety and other mental health disorders. These women are also less likely to seek treatment or be able to access healthcare for these conditions.