4 Ways Gender Bias in Mental Health Can Affect Advocacy

Originally, the word “bias” meant a diagonal cut or movement. These days, it tends to appear in discussions about fairness and equity.¹ Bias can be intentional, but it is often done without thinking.² 

Bias develops as a shortcut for the brain – a way to save it energy (cognitive effort). Instead of treating everyone as unique individuals, it looks for patterns and similarities. But this can result in stereotypes.^3,4 We might know that these stereotypes are wrong, but we may also feel like we can’t stop them from happening. However, by making ourselves aware of them, we can reduce the chance they will show through our behavior. 

Gender bias in mental health occurs when people are treated differently because of their gender. Unfortunately, often this means they are treated unfavorably. Typically, it is directed towards women, nonbinary people, and transgender people.² 

Self-advocacy is your ability to explain your perspectives, needs, and preferences when it comes to accessing support.⁵ It can be affected by your race, religion, and, of course, gender – particularly for women. And the way women are treated in healthcare settings can lead to challenges in the consultation process. 

This blog will describe the ways gender bias can affect self-advocacy in mental health, and steps you can take to minimize the impact.

Gender Disparities in Mental Health Care 

Healthcare has inherent gender bias. For instance, clinical research largely excluded women until as late as the 1990s.⁶ And in 2020, only 5% of global research and development funding was dedicated to women’s health research.⁷ 

Since less research has been conducted into women’s health (and mental health) than men’s, women’s mental health might not be as well understood as we’d hope. For instance, being considered “overly emotional” or affected is not uncommon, leaving many women feeling left to deal with things by themselves.⁸ However, it’s not easy for men either – they often face significant challenges seeking help for mental health conditions, such as concern about being perceived as “weak.” This is another form of mental health stigma and gender.⁹ 

Women may appear, on the surface, to be more affected by mental health conditions than men. Yet this could come down to how men and women often show symptoms in different ways. For instance, women tend to show more guilt and sadness in depression, while men tend to show more anger and frustration.¹⁰ 

Further, mental health in women is affected by hormone changes, due to issues like menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause/menopause. But hormones can often become a scapegoat for everything, making it more difficult to spot a deeper diagnosis. This means women’s mental health advocacy is a priority – the culprit could be hormones, but other things shouldn’t be excluded without discussion.

Because of their nature, mental health consultations can be among the most challenging situations in which to advocate for yourself. For this reason, next, we’ll look at how mental health advocacy and gender can encounter barriers in treatment. 

4 Ways Gender Bias Can Affect Women’s Mental Health Advocacy

Unfortunately, bias in psychological diagnosis does exist. But awareness of this can help you advocate for your needs. The following is an outline of potential reasons why women’s mental health is misunderstood. 

1. Disbelief

In a US survey in 2022, 15% of women said they didn’t feel their doctor believed what they said. This would leave anyone feeling annoyed and abandoned, and like you don’t know where to turn.¹¹ It can be difficult to speak up when you feel you’re not being believed. But you must not give up – you can ask to see a different doctor next time, or ask for a referral to a mental health specialist.¹²

2. Dismissal

Most women have heard the line “It’s only your period,” dismissing any other possible reason for symptoms. In the same survey, more than one in four women said they felt their doctors dismissed their concerns.¹¹ For many women, mental health conditions are brushed off by professionals who tell them it’s “normal”, “just your hormones”, or something else equally unhelpful. Hormones are active players in mental health, but they’re not all there is to the story – mental health is a complex interplay of hormones, along with psychological and social factors. Further, if your period is challenging (excessive agitation, for instance), this alone warrants investigation.

For example, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which can lead to severe emotional outbursts, is frequently misdiagnosed as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).¹³ That’s not to say that PMS should be dismissed either – if it’s making life difficult, it should be explored to see if symptoms can be improved.

But this kind of misdiagnosis is a big issue in mental healthcare.¹⁴ It can cause many problems, including higher rates of relapse and more severe episodes, so it’s important to make sure you are diagnosed correctly as quickly as possible.

3. Overly Ready Acceptance of a Diagnosis

As discussed, mental health conditions can often be misdiagnosed, especially in women. This can be explained, at times, by symptom overlap (for instance, thyroid disorders can affect mental health). However, it can also be because of a tendency to attribute symptoms to hormones or stress rather than investigating them thoroughly.¹⁵ In the short consultation times we have to explain symptoms and be diagnosed, it can be easy to accept the first diagnosis that’s given. And it can be easy for a doctor to diagnose what they think might be the most obvious condition.

4. Biases About Male Doctors Getting in the Way

In the same way that you may be concerned your (possibly male) doctor is stereotyping or dismissing you because of your gender, remember you can have biases of your own about your doctor. Instead of viewing them as an authoritarian figure who won’t appreciate being challenged, you could try to view them as a partner helping you navigate your healthcare needs.¹¹ So don’t be afraid to speak up and let them know if you think their first theory is incorrect. With the right support, you can get to the root of the problem.

Inclusive Mental Health Advocacy: What Can You Do?

Despite the gender bias in mental health and frequent rates of misdiagnosis in women, there are steps you can take to make the most of your consultation. The following is an outline of the actions you can take to promote women’s mental health advocacy – including your own. 

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Keep a symptom diary that includes details such as a full description of the symptoms, when in the day/month they occur, and the impact they have on you. Such as how they affect your relationships or job. Being as specific as you can will help your doctor see the wider impact on your life. Research your symptoms, and if you have a diagnosis already, learn all you can about it before follow-up consultations.¹⁶

Ask Questions

Asking questions during a consultation can help your doctor engage more with your specific problem and get a feel for your perspective.¹⁶ Questions can also make the consultation feel more like a two-way discussion and help you feel more involved in decisions.

Bring a Friend or Family Member

If you’re not confident in speaking up or are worried you’ll miss something in a consultation, ask a friend or loved one to come with you.¹¹ You can ask them to sit quietly and be a support for you, perhaps take notes, or even ask questions. You could also ask them to be vigilant for signs of disbelief or dismissal, allowing you to address these issues should they arise.¹⁶

Follow-Up

Ask your doctor what the next steps are after the consultation. Is there a blood test? Another check-in with them? A referral? Find out when, if you’ve been prescribed something, you should expect to see a difference, and at what point you should think it’s not working. And what red flags regarding side effects you should watch out for. All too often, people want to get out of a consultation as quickly as they can. But knowing the next steps is reassuring – it gives you a timescale and a plan.

Be Prepared to Seek a Second Opinion

If you feel dismissed by a healthcare provider, seek a second opinion. You are not obligated to stay with the same professional, and another will unlikely refuse you. After all, if you’re not comfortable with how someone is treating your concerns, you won’t be able to be as honest and open with them. Which, in the long run, could impact your physical and mental health.¹⁶

How Mission Connection Can Support You

You are an active participant in your own healthcare. Decisions need to include you. If you don’t think something will work, talk about your reasons why with your doctor. And if you are unhappy with the care provided by your doctor, you can make a complaint.

At Mission Connection, we offer a range of healthcare services to support your needs. Inclusive mental health advocacy is an integral part of how we operate as a team, ensuring that everyone – regardless of gender, race, sexuality, and so on – feels heard and supported.

If you’re experiencing mental health problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today to talk through how we can help you.

References

1. Wordpandit. The Origin of Bias: From Past to Present. https://wordpandit.com/wpt_vocabulary/the-origin-of-bias-from-past-to-present/.
2. The Oxford Review Briefings. Gender bias – Definition and Explanation. https://oxford-review.com/the-oxford-review-dei-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dictionary/gender-bias-definition-and-explanation/.
3. Percipio Company. What Is The Difference Between Implicit And Unconscious Bias? https://percipiocompany.com/what-is-the-difference-between-implicit-and-unconscious-bias/.
4. University of Sussex Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research (CHEER). Unconscious bias and implicit bias. https://www.sussex.ac.uk/education/cheer/researchprojects/rise/trainingmodule/toolkit/bias.
5. Curtin University. Self-advocacy and mental health: a rapid review. (2025). https://comhwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CERIPH-Self-Advocacy-and-Mental-Health-Review.pdf.
6. Hartnett, Y., MacHale, S., & Duffy, R. (2025). Gender-aware mental healthcare: counteracting sex and gender disparities in diagnosis and treatment for women. BJPsych Advances, 1, 11. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2025.10163.
7. Editorial. Funding research on women’s health. Nature Reviews Bioengineering, 2, 797–798. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-024-00253-7.
8. Neurolaunch. (February, 2025). Misdiagnosis in Women’s Mental Health: Unraveling the Complex Web of Gender Bias.https://neurolaunch.com/misdiagnosis-in-womens-mental-health/.
9. Williams-Sims, G.M. (April, 2025). Public stigma and masculinity: Exploring barriers to men’s mental health treatment and antidepressant acceptance. The British Psychological Society. https://www.bps.org.uk/news/public-stigma-and-masculinity-exploring-barriers-mens-mental-health-treatment-and.
10. WebMD. (October, 2024). Understanding Depression Disguises. https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-disguises.
11. Geng, C. (March, 2025). How can women advocate for themselves when it comes to health? MedicalNewsToday. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/womens-health-self-advocacy.
12. Mind. (November, 2025). What to do if your GP does not help. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/what-to-do-if-your-gp-does-not-help/. 
13. Ro, C. (December 2019). The overlooked condition that can trigger extreme behaviour. BBC Future. https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20191213-pmdd-a-little-understood-and-often-misdiagnosed-condition.
14. Bradford, A., Meyer, A. N. D., Khan, S., Giardina, T. D., Singh, H. (2024). Diagnostic error in mental health: a review. BMJ Quality and Safety, 19, 33(10):663-672. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2023-016996. 
15. Lynch, L. (February, 2026). Felt dismissed or struggling for health answers? Read this. Medichecks. https://www.medichecks.com/blogs/womens-health/felt-dismissed-or-struggling-for-health-answers-read-this
16. Glover, A. (January, 2025).  I’m A Surgeon – 5 Ways To Advocate For Yourself If You Feel Ignored By Doctors. Huffpost. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-to-advocate-for-yourself-medically_uk_677d123ce4b0a25e19fc7f76.