Donate
Find Help Now

Women’s Mental Health

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

Unique life challenges faced by women

Here are some of the unique life challenges that women face in day-to-day life, that may affect their thoughts, behaviour and attitude towards different aspects of life, and consequently pose an impact on their mental health.

 

Household duties and role as a carer

Over 70% of women manage a larger part of household duties, such as caretaking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and meal prepping. Yet, less than half of respondents agreed that men should take up more household responsibilities than they do (Women’s Comission, 2010). A lot of women also leave their jobs to engage in general housework or care for family members (Census and Statistics Department, 2015). This reflects an implicit attitude towards women to take up the carer role of the family, which has affected the attitude and expectation for women to fulfil the existing gender role. While this brings stress to women who feel pressured to oblige, it may also lead to guilty feelings when women are unable to fulfil the expectation.

Carers tend to face high levels of stress and are at risk of developing mental health problems. With multiple responsibilities on their plate, they are often unable to put aside time for themselves, let alone seek professional help. On top of that, the busy schedule also prevents them from reaching out to their network of support, which can leave them feeling isolated and lonely.

 

Sexual objectification

Sexual objectification is not uncommon in Hong Kong and on social media – countless comments and criticisms are made towards women’s physical appearances daily. Media also plays a large part – advertisements, TV programmes and soft news often put emphasis on defining women based on their physical appearance.

This affects women in a few major ways:

  • Women are more susceptible to receiving comments and criticisms on their physical appearance, which is normalised in society. These experiences correlate with higher chances of self-objectification, body dissatisfaction or weight concerns, concerns for physical appearance, and loneliness.
  • When women internalise these experiences, it also affects self-perception. As a result, they are more conscious of their physical appearance and stressed over maintaining a body image that is socially acceptable.
  • Women are more likely to experience sexual harassment or sexual assault, putting them at higher risk of experiencing and being impacted by trauma

 

These experiences can put women at a higher risk of mental health problems including anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Social norms and body image

The majority of women have been exposed to unrealistic norms around physical appearance and beauty, from the media, friends and family. They have felt the pressure to follow the norms, because they want to be accepted by their social circle, or due to the perceived positive association between better physical appearances and desirable individual life outcomes (Ng, Liu, Gaither, Marsan & Zucker, 2021).

Women are more likely to be dissatisfied with their body shape and have a higher drive for thinness. 63% of young women in Hong Kong are dissatisfied with their physical appearance; they are also likely to perceive themselves as larger than they are (MWYO, 2018). This is especially true for adolescents, as they are still growing and are vulnerable to social influence. A study showed that female adolescents have more weight concerns than male adolescents, with more than 50% of girls expressing the desire to lose weight, and 35% have attempted dieting (Tam, Ng, Yu & Young, 2007). This trend started early in life as well – children after 8 years old, and girls, are twice as likely to desire to lose weight when compared to that of younger children, and boys, respectively (Knowles, Ling, Thomas, Adab & McManus, 2014). The research here demonstrates that children, especially girls are aware and under the social pressure to achieve the ‘ideal’ body shape from a young age.

To tackle the impact of unrealistic norms around ‘ideal’ body shape, different countries, such as France, Spain and Italy, have taken steps to pass legislation to restrict the use of unhealthy/overly-thin models, to encourage healthier body image norms in the fashion industry, and the media. More companies are also using ‘plus-size’ models to encourage body positivity and diversity.

Due to the sexualisation of women from a young age, women are more likely to experience sex-based violence and harassment. A Hong Kong-based study found that close to 40% of women report having experienced sexual violence (Chan, 2022). While another study found that 27% of female university students have experienced sexual harassment (Equal Opportunity Commission, 2019). Experiencing sexual violence and aggression can lead to a variety of mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Employment

There are existing gender differences in different working industries in Hong Kong, the following are some examples:

  • There are a higher proportion of female workers working in the public administration, social and personal services sector (59.6%), and retail, accommodation and food services sector (57.2%).
  • More women work as clerical support workers (73.6%), or service and sales workers (57.8%), as compared to other occupations such as being a professional (38.4%) or craft and related workers (4.7%).

Women make up 45.3% of the total labour force in Hong Kong, yet only 34.3% are at the senior management level. The issue remains for sectors with similar ratios, such as the financing, insurance, real estate, professional and business services (40.2%),  and retail, accommodation and food services sectors (37.9%).

*All figures are from Women’s commission Hong Kong, 2019

 

Moreover, there are also some discrepancies in the median monthly earnings among men and women. Aside from associate professionals and clerical support workers, the monthly earnings of men are slightly higher than women on the same payroll.

The “glass ceiling” is the invisible barrier that hinders the career development of a particular population. Despite women having entered the workforce for several decades, the glass ceiling still remains a problem, which brings a great amount of stress to female employees. The stress caused by the glass ceiling, linked to discrimination, unfair pay, and other factors, can cause feelings of isolation, self-doubt and frustration. Women may feel the need to work extra hard to gain recognition or excel in their careers. As a result, they may not be able to make time for their mental health, or be reluctant to reach out when in need, seeking help may be seen as a sign of weakness and perceived as ‘not strong enough for a higher position.

Instagram Facebook-f Linkedin
What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Unique life challenges faced by women

Unique life challenges faced by women

Here are some of the unique life challenges that women face in day-to-day life, that may affect their thoughts, behaviour and attitude towards different aspects of life, and consequently pose an impact on their mental health.

 

Household duties and role as a carer

Over 70% of women manage a larger part of household duties, such as caretaking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and meal prepping. Yet, less than half of respondents agreed that men should take up more household responsibilities than they do (Women’s Comission, 2010). A lot of women also leave their jobs to engage in general housework or care for family members (Census and Statistics Department, 2015). This reflects an implicit attitude towards women to take up the carer role of the family, which has affected the attitude and expectation for women to fulfil the existing gender role. While this brings stress to women who feel pressured to oblige, it may also lead to guilty feelings when women are unable to fulfil the expectation.

Carers tend to face high levels of stress and are at risk of developing mental health problems. With multiple responsibilities on their plate, they are often unable to put aside time for themselves, let alone seek professional help. On top of that, the busy schedule also prevents them from reaching out to their network of support, which can leave them feeling isolated and lonely.

 

Sexual objectification

Sexual objectification is not uncommon in Hong Kong and on social media - countless comments and criticisms are made towards women’s physical appearances daily. Media also plays a large part - advertisements, TV programmes and soft news often put emphasis on defining women based on their physical appearance.

This affects women in a few major ways:

  • Women are more susceptible to receiving comments and criticisms on their physical appearance, which is normalised in society. These experiences correlate with higher chances of self-objectification, body dissatisfaction or weight concerns, concerns for physical appearance, and loneliness.
  • When women internalise these experiences, it also affects self-perception. As a result, they are more conscious of their physical appearance and stressed over maintaining a body image that is socially acceptable.
  • Women are more likely to experience sexual harassment or sexual assault, putting them at higher risk of experiencing and being impacted by trauma

 

These experiences can put women at a higher risk of mental health problems including anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Social norms and body image

The majority of women have been exposed to unrealistic norms around physical appearance and beauty, from the media, friends and family. They have felt the pressure to follow the norms, because they want to be accepted by their social circle, or due to the perceived positive association between better physical appearances and desirable individual life outcomes (Ng, Liu, Gaither, Marsan & Zucker, 2021).

Women are more likely to be dissatisfied with their body shape and have a higher drive for thinness. 63% of young women in Hong Kong are dissatisfied with their physical appearance; they are also likely to perceive themselves as larger than they are (MWYO, 2018). This is especially true for adolescents, as they are still growing and are vulnerable to social influence. A study showed that female adolescents have more weight concerns than male adolescents, with more than 50% of girls expressing the desire to lose weight, and 35% have attempted dieting (Tam, Ng, Yu & Young, 2007). This trend started early in life as well - children after 8 years old, and girls, are twice as likely to desire to lose weight when compared to that of younger children, and boys, respectively (Knowles, Ling, Thomas, Adab & McManus, 2014). The research here demonstrates that children, especially girls are aware and under the social pressure to achieve the ‘ideal’ body shape from a young age.

To tackle the impact of unrealistic norms around ‘ideal’ body shape, different countries, such as France, Spain and Italy, have taken steps to pass legislation to restrict the use of unhealthy/overly-thin models, to encourage healthier body image norms in the fashion industry, and the media. More companies are also using ‘plus-size’ models to encourage body positivity and diversity.

Due to the sexualisation of women from a young age, women are more likely to experience sex-based violence and harassment. A Hong Kong-based study found that close to 40% of women report having experienced sexual violence (Chan, 2022). While another study found that 27% of female university students have experienced sexual harassment (Equal Opportunity Commission, 2019). Experiencing sexual violence and aggression can lead to a variety of mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Employment

There are existing gender differences in different working industries in Hong Kong, the following are some examples:

  • There are a higher proportion of female workers working in the public administration, social and personal services sector (59.6%), and retail, accommodation and food services sector (57.2%).
  • More women work as clerical support workers (73.6%), or service and sales workers (57.8%), as compared to other occupations such as being a professional (38.4%) or craft and related workers (4.7%).

Women make up 45.3% of the total labour force in Hong Kong, yet only 34.3% are at the senior management level. The issue remains for sectors with similar ratios, such as the financing, insurance, real estate, professional and business services (40.2%),  and retail, accommodation and food services sectors (37.9%).

*All figures are from Women’s commission Hong Kong, 2019

 

Moreover, there are also some discrepancies in the median monthly earnings among men and women. Aside from associate professionals and clerical support workers, the monthly earnings of men are slightly higher than women on the same payroll.

The “glass ceiling” is the invisible barrier that hinders the career development of a particular population. Despite women having entered the workforce for several decades, the glass ceiling still remains a problem, which brings a great amount of stress to female employees. The stress caused by the glass ceiling, linked to discrimination, unfair pay, and other factors, can cause feelings of isolation, self-doubt and frustration. Women may feel the need to work extra hard to gain recognition or excel in their careers. As a result, they may not be able to make time for their mental health, or be reluctant to reach out when in need, seeking help may be seen as a sign of weakness and perceived as ‘not strong enough for a higher position.