Gender
Gender is one component of a person's identity, which is made up of many other components, such as culture, ethnicity, and personality traits. Gender develops over a person's lifetime?different people realize at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
Gender plays an important role when it comes to mental illnesses. Women and men often require different approaches to identifying mental illnesses and getting treatment. Individuals who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual also face unique challenges and have different mental health needs.
Learning more about the relationship between gender and mental health can help improve mental wellness, promote recovery, and reduce discrimination and the negative attitudes oftentimes associated with mental illnesses.