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Women experience disproportionately high rates of mental illness and distinct patterns of mental health conditions, yet their concerns are too often “dismissed, siloed and misunderstood,” according to a new report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).

The strategy, Women’s Mental Health Matters: Foundations for Change 2026-2031, warns that “our mental health system is failing women” and calls for urgent action from the NHS and government to improve care.

One in 4 (24%) women in England has a common mental disorder such as anxiety or depression, compared with 1 in 6 (15%) men. The report said women’s mental health is shaped by a combination of biological, social, environmental, and structural factors, while demand for support continues to rise.

Despite this, services are not consistently responding to women's needs. Many women struggle to access appropriate support, with some “falling through the gaps entirely.” The report said women are routinely dismissed, disbelieved, or left waiting months, and sometimes years, for effective care.

The strategy noted that women’s pathways to care are often longer and more complex because of wider social and economic factors. Women are more likely than men to be carers, live in poverty, experience social isolation, have concerns about personal safety, and experience physical or sexual abuse, including domestic violence, all of which can increase the risk for poor mental health.

The report also highlighted the high rates of co-occurring substance misuse and mental health conditions among women, which can worsen outcomes and create additional barriers to accessing care. Improving outcomes will require better integration of mental health and substance misuse services, the college said.

Mental Health Risks Across the Lifespan

The report aligns with concerns raised by a forthcoming Lancet Psychiatry Commission on women’s mental health, announced in April, which aims to explore why women bear a disproportionate burden of mental ill health.

The commission noted that women live longer than men but spend more years in poor health, with a substantial proportion of disability attributable to mental disorders.

Researchers said women’s mental health risks tend to cluster around key biological and social transitions, including puberty, the perinatal period, menopause, and older age. They also argued that current psychiatric frameworks, education, and clinical guidelines remain poorly aligned with women’s experiences.

The RCPsych strategy highlighted evidence that rates of self-harm among young women have tripled since 1993. It also noted that suicide remains the leading cause of maternal death during the first year after childbirth, while perimenopausal women face an increased risk for such conditions as depression and bipolar disorder.

The report argued that services have historically been shaped by research and data focused largely on men and that chronic underinvestment in women’s health has compounded existing inequalities.

Call for Urgent Action

In a statement accompanying the report, RCPsych President Lade Smith said, “Women’s mental healthcare is in crisis, and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

The college called on the NHS and government to make women’s mental health a priority and ensure services are held accountable for protecting women from harm.

“The experiences of women must be listened to when services are being designed and delivered if we want to truly understand the issues and address them,” Smith said.

Dr Sheena Meredith is an established medical writer, editor, and consultant in healthcare communications, with extensive experience writing for medical professionals and the general public. She is qualified in medicine and in law and medical ethics.