Gender-aware mental healthcare: counteracting sex and gender disparities in diagnosis and treatment for women

SUMMARY Sex and gender are often overlooked factors in the delivery of mental healthcare, resulting in a gender blindness that ignores the specific needs of women and, in some circumstances, men. A lack of gender-disaggregated data and balanced sex and gender representation in clinical research has led to knowledge gaps in women’s health overall. This article explores the influence of gender bias across a spectrum of conditions where disparities in diagnosis, treatment and research exist, including psychosis, mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, eating disorders and substance use disorders. The influence of female reproductive hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) on symptom onset, presentation and treatment response is also discussed where clinically relevant. Gender-aware approaches to delivering mental healthcare are needed, including trauma-informed care, in order to deliver equitable and effective mental healthcare for all.