[Portrait of the Women's Mental Health who Consult Community Organization of a Quebec Region].

Abstract

In Québec, one in three people is at risk of being affected by a mental health problem during his lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from mild mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Poverty, violence and sexual abuse, difficulty to have access to adequate and affordable housing and poor working conditions are among the risk for women of being affected by a mental health problem. Objectives This study was conducted upon the request of a Réseau des groupes de femmes and provides a portrait of women's mental health who attend community organizations in a Quebec region. Method A quantitative descriptive research design was used to collect data guided by the theoretical model of Desjardins et al. (2008). A total of 171 volunteers from 16 different community organizations completed a self-administered questionnaire. Results The analysis of the data highlights the protective factors of mental health such as self-esteem and social support and risk factors such as low income and stressful life. It reveals that while the majority of the women have good mental health, some of them live with poorer mental health associated with several other factors, especially violence and poverty. Conclusion Results could lead to the development of actions meeting the specific needs of women living with poor mental health. This study also highlights the contribution of the community organizations for supporting the people living with mental health issues.