Introduction: Are We Out of Our Minds?

Summary

In the past women who were deemed to be ‘difficult’ were called ‘hysterical’ and their ‘odd’ behaviour even exhibited in lecture theatres, for entertainment, to doctors in training. But today, even after decades of feminism, are women still being dismissed as ‘out of our minds’ when we complain? The focus of the last two decades has been on men’s mental health because of their higher suicide rate. However, women are suffering significantly too in many ways and still disproportionately, losing out in mental health care. Gender plays a key role in how we experience our mental health but is paid insufficient attention. What has gone wrong for women and girls? Why are we still ‘out of our minds’ and what can we do about it?