International Day of Action for Women’s Health

The International Day of Action for Women’s Health, also known as International Women’s Health Day, has been observed every year on May 28 since 1987. Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network (LACWHN) and Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) worked together to take on the responsibility of promoting and coordinating the campaign efforts to spearhead the global celebration of International Day of Action for Women’s Health annually. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the issues related to women’s rights, health, and wellbeing.

Statistics On Women’s Mental Health

There are many poignant statistics regarding women’s mental health. Below are a variety of notable examples: 

• According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), each year, 1 in 5 women in the United States has a mental health problem such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or an eating disorder.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that about 1 in 4 women have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/ or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.
• The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provide the following data:
  • In 2020, there were an estimated 52.9 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with any mental illness (AMI), representing nearly 21.0% of the adult population. 
    • The prevalence of AMI was higher among females (25.8%) than males (15.8%).
    • Among the 52.9 million adults with AMI, 24.3 million (46.2%) received mental health services in the past year. Significantly more females with AMI (51.2%) received mental health services than males with AMI (37.4%).
  • In 2020, there were an estimated 14.2 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with serious mental illness (SMI), representing nearly 5.6% of all U.S. adults.
    • The prevalence of SMI was higher among females (7.0%) than males (4.2%).
    • Among the 14.2 million adults with SMI, 9.1 million (64.5%) received mental health treatment in the past year. More females with SMI (69.9%) received mental health treatment than males with SMI (54.9%).

As is pointedly stated by World Health Organization (WHO) “International women’s day is a day of celebration and reflection on progress made to promote and protect women’s equality and human rights.” This day also serves as a reminder to women of the importance of caring for themselves whether, in a crisis, engaged in personal growth or exploring and growing through wellness modalities.

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