Women’s mental health in the workplace in the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic: a gender perspective

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic intensified inequalities in the world of work, significantly affecting the population’s mental health. Among the most impacted groups were women, who experienced work overload, domestic responsibilities, and emotional strain in a context marked by precariousness, insecurity, and fragile public policies. The literature highlights that these inequalities are rooted in patriarchal structures and the persistence of asylum-based logic in mental health care. Objective: To analyze Brazilian scientific literature on the labor market, women, mental health, and COVID-19, focusing on gender inequalities and the care strategies identified between 2019 and 2020. Method: This is a scoping review conducted following the PRISMA-ScR protocol. The search was carried out in the SciELO database using the descriptors: “labor market,” “COVID-19,” “gender,” and “mental health” or “psychic suffering.” Articles published in Portuguese between February 2020 and June 2022 with a national scope were included. The selection, screening, and data analysis were performed independently by three researchers. Results: A total of 640 studies were identified, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Most publications indicate that the pandemic intensified psychosocial risk factors in the workplace, increasing mental distress among women, especially those on the frontlines of care or in socially vulnerable conditions. The review also revealed a lack of institutional responses and specific public policies addressing gender inequalities in the contexts of work and mental health. Final considerations: Findings highlight the need to strengthen intersectoral public policies that promote psychosocial care for working women, with an emphasis on gender equity, mental health protection, and overcoming exclusionary logics still present in institutions. This study contributes to broadening the discussion on the pandemic’s impact on women’s working conditions and mental health and offers insights for the development of more effective and equitable care strategies.