Women and Mental Health

Women and men can develop most of the same mental disorders and conditions, but may experience different symptoms. Some symptoms include:

• Persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessness
• Misuse of alcohol and/or drugs
• Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Excessive fear or worry
• Seeing or hearing things that are not there
• Extremely high and low moods
• Aches, headaches, or digestive problems without a clear cause
• Irritability
• Social withdrawal
• Suicidal thoughts

Mental disorders can be treated: If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor or visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage. Communicating well with your health care provider can improve your care and help you both make good choices about your health. Read about tips to help prepare and get the most out of your visit. For additional resources, including questions to ask your health care provider, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help immediately. You can call 911 or call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Featured Health Topics

• Anxiety Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness)
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Suicide Prevention

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Federal Resources

• Depression among Women: This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage provides information about depression among women, including risk factors for depression, and postpartum depression.
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): HRSA offers programs and resources on maternal health, including depression during and after pregnancy.
• National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD): NICHD supports the Moms’ Mental Health Matters initiative and the PregSource research project.
• NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH): ORWH provides resources for mothers about maternal health on the Maternal Morbidity and Mortality portal.
• Office on Women’s Health: Mental Health: Learn more about women’s mental health on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office on Women’s Health website.
• Women’s Health: The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus offers resources on the unique health issues women experience (en Español).

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Support is also available via live chat. Para ayuda en español, llame al 988.
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: This hotline offers free, confidential, mental health support for moms and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. Call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746) to connect with counselors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. English- and Spanish-speaking counselors are available.
• Disaster Distress Hotline: People affected by any disaster or tragedy can call this helpline, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to receive immediate counseling. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with a trained professional from the closest crisis counseling center within the network.
• Veterans Crisis Line: This helpline is a free, confidential resource for Veterans of all ages and circumstances. Call 1-800-273-8255, press "1"; text 838255; or chat online to connect with 24/7 support.
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 for free and confidential support 24 hours a day throughout the U.S.
• More NIH Information Lines

Clinical research is medical research that involves people like you. People volunteer to participate in carefully conducted investigations that ultimately uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand human disease. Clinical research includes trials that test new treatments and therapies as well as long–term natural history studies, which provide valuable information about how disease and health progress.

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) conduct a large number of research studies with patients and healthy volunteers. Our researchers are currently working to identify the causes of, treatments for, and predictors of risk for reproductive endocrine-related mood disorders including the following:

• Postpartum Depression
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD, a severe premenstrual syndrome)
• Perimenopausal Depression

In addition to these disorders, NIMH researchers are also studying other mental disorders that affect women such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. To find studies being conducted at the NIMH, visit Join a Study: Adults.

Our studies take place at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and require regular visits. If you don’t live nearby but are interested in finding a clinical trial near you, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Why should women participate in a clinical study?

Sex and gender can influence health in important ways. You can help scientists learn more about the differences and make it possible to draw conclusions that advance health for both women and men. NIMH is committed to ensuring that women trying to decide whether to enroll in a clinical study get all the information they need to feel comfortable and make informed decisions.

Last Reviewed: May 2021

Unless otherwise specified, NIMH information and publications are in the public domain and available for use free of charge. Citation of NIMH is appreciated. Please see our Citing NIMH Information and Publications page for more information.