Gender Differences in Mental Health

Dear Colleagues,

According to WHO, mental health enables individuals to realize their own potential, cope with life stressors, and work productively. As a result, a healthy person is not only free from mental disorders, but also is able to make a unique contribution to society. Knowledge about the determinants and the programmes promoting mental health should be in the spotlight as it has long-term consequences in various spheres of life, such as the economy, industries, education, and health systems. Despite advances in mental health research, there are still many challenges in the area. One of them is to develop more appropriate interventions based on scientifically proven predictors of mental health referred to specificity of genders. Effective strategies for mental health cannot be gender-neutral, while the risk factors are gender-specific due to biological and social factors.

The aim of the present Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) is to strengthen existing knowledge about gender differences in mental health, both its positive and negative axes, namely the presence or absence of mental health and the presence or absence of mental illness. Further studies are needed to better understand the extent to which differences between men and women should be taken into consideration in supporting people’s functioning well in life, as well as preventing or treating mental disorders. Thus, on the one hand the topics in focus are: well-being, flourishing, coping, optimism, and on the other: depressive and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, loneliness, distress, domestic violence, insomnia, substance use, self-harm, or suicidal behaviour. Articles on these topics are invited to this Special Issue, especially those that combine high academic standards with a practical emphasis on providing optimal gender-sensitive mental health interventions.

Dr. Kinga Kaleta
Dr. Justyna Mróz
Guest Editors

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