SSC120: Healthcare - Mental Health Differences in Men and Women

This essay examines the critical differences in health, illness, and mortality between men and women, with a specific focus on mental health. It begins by differentiating between sex and gender, then explores gender disparities in illness, particularly mental health, and the varying expressions of mental illness in men and women. The essay references statistical data from the UK's Office of National Statistics and Public Health England to illustrate mortality rates, common causes of death, and the prevalence of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicide. It discusses the influence of masculinity, risk behaviors, and emotional reticence on men's help-seeking behaviors, as well as the impact of women's dual roles in society. The analysis incorporates various studies and theories, including Connell’s theory of multiple masculinities, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between gender, social norms, and mental well-being. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of recognizing these differences to improve healthcare outcomes for both men and women. The essay also provides a detailed analysis of the key differences in mental health between men and women, focusing on mortality rates, social factors, and healthcare disparities.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Healthcare
Name of the Student
Name of University
Author’s note

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Introduction
Gender and sex are regarded as critical determinant of health along with the associated
mortality and morbidity. Historically, the term gender and sex is used interchangeably. However,
the usages of these two terms are gradually becoming distinct and it is now important to
understand the difference between the meaning and usage of two terms (World Health
Organization [WHO] 2019). The following essay aims to analyze the health, illness and
mortality difference in men and women with a special focus on mental health. The essay will
initiate by stating the difference between gender and sex followed by gender difference in illness
along with mental illness and difference in expression of mental illness among male and female.
Gender and sex
In general it can be said that the term “sex” is used to refer the biological difference
between male and female for example difference in the genital structures and reproductive
organs. However, the term, “gender” is more difficult to define. It is used to refer the role of
male or the role of female in the society. This is defined as gender role or the concept that the
individuals’ have on themselves and on the gender identity. According to the definition of the
World Health Organization (WHO) (2019), gender is referred to as socially constructed
characteristics of both men and women in the domain of social norms roles in the society, their
relationships between each other. The definition of gender and their role in the society differs
based on culture, demography and the orthodox nature of the society. Zakiniaeiz et al. (2018) are
of the opinion that person’s genetically assigned sex does not necessarily coincide with their
gender identity. These groups of individuals are referred in the society as transgender or non-
binary r as gender – nonconforming.

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Mortality and morbidity in men and women
According to the statistical report published by the Office of National Statistics UK
(2017), the rate of increase in the life-expectancy has slowed down throughout UK. The average
life expectancy of males is 79.2 years and that of females are 82.9 years during the tenure of
2016 to 2016. Due to rapid improvements in the mortality of male in comparison to females, the
gap in the overall life expectancy at the time of birth among males and females residing in UK
have decreases steadily over time for exampling 6.0 decrease in 1980 to 82 and 3.7 years during
2012-14. The factors like reduction in the percentage of men smoking tobacco, decrease in the
heavy industry and movement away from the physical labour are manufacturing industries can
be highlighted as possible contributors behind the change in life-expectancy.
Figure: Life expectancy of men and women during the age of 65.
(Source: Office of National Statistics UK 2017)

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During 2016, the common cause of death in males was heart diseases that accounted for
13.6% of death. The common causes of death among females were dementia, Alzheimer that
accounted for 15.8% of deaths.
Mental health of men and women
According to the Mental Health Foundation UK (2019), mental health problems affect
both male and female. However, the rate of occurrence is not equal. In England, women are more
likely to suffer from mental health complications in comparison to men. Women population in
England are two times more vulnerable in getting affected with anxiety disorder. However,
during 2013, nearly 6,233 cases of suicides were registered in UK for people who are 15 years
and above and of them 78% were males and 22% were females, 10% of mothers and 6% of
father during any point of time in UK suffer from mental health complications. One out of five
women in England suffers complex mental disease in comparison to the one out of eight men.
The statistics published by the Public Health England. (2018) highlighted that rate of mortality
arising and dementia and Alzheimer’ disease among the males and females have increased
drastically since 2006. However, the reason behind this is not clear. But, increased rate of
awareness about dementia is making it more likely to be diagnosed and reported. The forecast
conducted for 2019 to 2013 revealed that mortality rate arising from dementia and Alzheimer is
expected to increase in both and female and this rate is likely to overtake the percentage of death
tolls occurring in males due to heart disease. The premature mortality arising out of serious
mental illness (SMI) like schizophrenia and bipolar diseases has increased by 3.7 times in both
male and female in UK. However, the burden of premature deaths in males and females in UK
secure the 10th lowest rank among the other 28 countries in the EU.

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Figure: Leading Cause of Death in Males and Females in UK in 2016
(Source: Public Health England 2018)

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Figure: Leading Cause of Death in Males in England during 2016
(Source: Public Health England 2018)
Masculinity, risk behaviour and emotional reticence is asking help
Social connections can act as a significant buffer against the high impact of stressful or
negative experience of mental health. Male place more importance on social connections that
helps in providing instrumental support on the other hand, female are more likely to seek
emotional support for coping up with depression and stress. Seeking help or revealing the
emotional breakdown in front of others is consider to goes against the stereotype of masculinity
as defined by the social norms. Alternative part of the argument is that, male in the domain of

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emotional reticence are less likely to remain interested in establishing emotional and supportive
environment in comparison to females (McKenzie et al. 2018). Paltiel (2018) have highlighted
that men in comparison to women have relatively less small social networks and less frequent
modifications in the social support coming from friends and family. The study conducted by
National Institute of Mental Health (2019) revealed that middle aged men describe their feelings
of sadness, loneliness and distress only with their loved ones. While majority of them do not
know how to express their emotional concerns to others, because, the male ego intercepts in this
thought process. According to Connell’s theory of multiple masculinities, gender is produced and
reproduced through daily social practices. It does not have a fixed set of traits that men and
women must possess. Connell’s theory also proposed that hierarchy in gender relations exists
both in between male and female and also among male and female. The multiple patterns of
masculinity arise from social class, sexuality and ethnicity. Thus men from higher or lower social
background are less likely to seek emotional help in comparison to females (McKenzie et al.
2018).
Mental load in women's mental health having dual role
According to National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) (2019), mental illness affect both
male and female while prevalence of mental illness among men is comparatively less than
female. Men with mental health complications are less likely to receive treatment for mental
health in comparison to women. However, the men are more vulnerable in committing suicides
than women on the other hand, mental health burden of women are higher than males. Wang and
Peng (2017) stated that women who plays dual role in the family like an earning member along
with a caring mother are more likely to suffer from increased rate of stress and depression in
comparison to the women. This is because, the working women are more likely to pass through

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work-family conflict leading to increased sense of depression and decrease in the life
satisfaction. As per the norms of the society, the female gender are required to conduct the
household tasks like cooking, caring for children and cleaning and role of male gender is society
includes mostly earning. Thus working women work-life balance becomes hectic as majority of
the working women experience relatively less support from their male counter-parts in
accomplishing the household chores and thus increasing the level of stress (Meleis, Caglia and
Langer, 2016).
Habits of men and women and mental health
Evans et al. (2016) stated that achieving and maintaining a balance in the dual role of
women can only be accomplished through complex range of strategies. Women mainly use six
different role balance strategies in order to manage their mental complications and these include
living with integrity, being the best, executing the hobbies, searching the clues of success and
remembering why. Men consider these approaches to be futile as they focus mainly on
materialistic skills and techniques. Thus women in spite of being a victim of high emotional
turmoil are able to recover from it via nurturing social connection and reciprocating the same
(Evans et al. 2016). Paltiel (2018) stated that depression is a common mental health problem in
women however, decreasing over-representation of depressed women might help in decreasing
the significant global burden of the disease generated by psychological disorders.
Conclusion
Thus from the above discussion it can be concluded that mental health problem are
common in both men and women. However, difference in the gender representation in the
society leads to difference in mental health outcome in both male and female. For example, men

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are less likely feel comfortable in expression their emotional concerns to others and look for
therapy based support. This difference in mental health expression leads to difference in the rate
of mortality and morbidity among men and women along with difference in health status.

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References
Evans, K.L., Millsteed, J., Richmond, J.E., Falkmer, M., Falkmer, T. and Girdler, S.J., (2016).
Working sandwich generation women utilize strategies within and between roles to achieve role
balance. PloS one, 11(6), p.e0157469.
McKenzie, S.K., Collings, S., Jenkin, G. and River, J., (2018). Masculinity, Social
Connectedness, and Mental Health: Men’s Diverse Patterns of Practice. American journal of
men's health, 12(5), pp.1247-1261.
Meleis, A.I., Caglia, J. and Langer, A., (2016). Women and health: Women's dual roles as both
recipients and providers of healthcare. Journal of Women's Health, 25(4), pp.329-331.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Men and Mental Health. Access date: 16th August
2019. Retrieved from:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health/index.shtml
Office of National Statistics UK (2017). National life tables, UK: 2014 to 2016. Access date: 16th
August 2019. Retrieved from:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/
lifeexpectancies/bulletins/nationallifetablesunitedkingdom/2014to2016
Paltiel, F.L., (2018). Women’s mental health: a global perspective. In The Health Of Women (pp.
197-216). Routledge.

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Public Health England. (2018). Chapter2: Trends in Mortality. Access date: 16th August 2019.
Retrieved from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-profile-for-england-2018/
chapter-2-trends-in-mortality
Wang, Y. and Peng, J., (2017). Work–Family conflict and depression in Chinese professional
women: The mediating roles of job satisfaction and life satisfaction. International Journal of
Mental Health and Addiction, 15(2), pp.394-406.
World Health Organization [WHO]. (2019). Gender and women's mental health. Access date:
16th August 2019. Retrieved from:
https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/
Zakiniaeiz, Y., Cosgrove, K.P., Potenza, M.N. and Mazure, C.M., (2016). Focus: Sex and gender
health: Balance of the sexes: Addressing sex differences in preclinical research. The Yale journal
of biology and medicine, 89(2), p.255.