Women are twice as likely to be affected by depression than men - and Ireland has the highest rate of child suicide for girls in the EU.
That is the shocking backdrop to a new report out today on women's mental health in Ireland.
It brings together the experiences of 100 women as part of a collaboration by the National Women's Council of Ireland and Saint Patrick's Mental Health Services.
This new report launched today is called ‘Out of Silence’.
The National Women's Council of Ireland teamed up with St Patrick’s mental health services to speak with over 100 women to hear their experiences.
Today we launch our report Out of Silence Women’s Mental Health in their Own Words, and the Women’s Mental Health Network along with St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. Join us for an important discussion lead by a fantastic panel of speakers. #outofsilence #womensmentalhealth pic.twitter.com/YLZopKa4aT
— Womenscouncilireland (@NWCI) November 6, 2018
Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men.
According to St Patrick’s Health Services, women account for the majority of admissions to their facilities.
In addition Ireland has the highest rate of child suicide for girls up to the age of 19.
Co-Author of the report Dr Cliona Loughnane says one of the main findings is that women feel a lot of demands.
"They have a knowledge of the health service as they find it and of the supports that help them keep well that they feel can really be built into the health service," said Dr Loughnane.
"And I think that's what we need to start doing now. We need to put structures in place and the policies in place that react to what women say they need on the ground."
The NWCI and St Patrick’s have launched the Women’s Mental Health Network which aims to improve women’s mental health services in Ireland