Mental Health,Disabilities,and Women

Abstract

Ongoing development and reform of health care systems worldwide are directing the attention of policymakers to the significance of mental disorders and ensuing disabilities. While this awareness has encouraged empirical work and scientific literature on disabilities associated with mental disorders, insufficient attention has been paid to issues of gender in the context of mental disorder and disability. This paper draws on four data sets-the 1994-96 Disability Survey; the 1992 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS); Social Security Disability Programs; and the recent international measure of Disability-Adjusted Life Years-to explore relationships among gender, mental disorders, and disability in the United States and to consider the special needs presented by women disabled by mental disorders for service development and service configuration. Generally younger than women disabled by physical disorders, women with mental disorders tend to be in their prime child-bearing years. While in the United States private sector managed care programs increasingly are perceived as the most reasonable way to provide health services in a fiscally responsible way, there appears to exist an implicit notion that managed care is intended exclusively for provision of acute care and preventive services. There is little discussion or exploration of the use of managed care systems for rehabilitation generally, or of the particular rehabilitation needs of young women. The implications for the additional “burden” of disabilities along with the potential risk factor of traditional female roles require serious consideration and enlightened policies. Mental