In Germany, many studies suggest a striking “yes”.
11 February 2024
Women in Mental Health Research
International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Historically, women have been significantly underrepresented in various scientific fields, including mental health research. Although there have been efforts to improve women's representation in recent years, progress has been slow.
Gender diversity in mental health research is crucial yet often overlooked. In 2023, a group of researchers have raised concerns about how gender inequity may narrow the scope of research and innovation, citing that relevance of research questions on mental health studies can be problematic when the gender composition of researchers does not reflect that of the study population.
Read ”Gender (in)equity in global mental health research: A call to action”
Studies have shown that women are more susceptible to depression and anxiety than men, and are more frequently involved in caregiving for relatives with mental health issues. Getting the perception of women about women in a gender balanced research team can ask more pertinent questions and develop more suitable solutions.
Recognizing this, ADVANCE participates to the growing movement to ensure that women are more represented in research roles in mental health. Currently, about 67% of ADVANCE's consortium members, including early and senior-level researchers and staff, are women. Additionally, 6 out of the 13 task leaders of ADVANCE are women, ensuring balance in research discussions and in setting the overall research agenda of the project.
In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we interviewed 15 of our researchers to hear about how they got into studying mental health and their advice for women and girls who want to get involved in this important work.
Global demand for good researchers
Marit Sijbrandij emphasizes the global need for committed mental health researchers, a sentiment also echoed by Eleonora Prina who believes it's an opportune time to enter the field. They encourage aspiring researchers to pursue top-notch training and seek mentorship from experienced professionals in both research and clinical practice.
Marit Sijbrandij, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
I was always interested in why some people behave or think differently than other people, and mostly when these thoughts of behaviors are maladaptive, such as in the case of mental health problems. I always wanted to contribute to developing effective and high-quality strategies to help people with mental health problems.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
There is a lot of demand worldwide for good researchers with genuine interest in improving mental health for populations in need. Try to develop expertise in pursing the best possible training in research and clinical work, and persist!
Eleonora Prina, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
During my teenage years, I became interested in mental health as I interacted with individuals in my network dealing with mental health challenges. Witnessing their experiences sparked an interest in me to understand mental health complexities better and to contribute to others' well-being. This led me to pursue a research career in mental health, where I could explore innovative approaches and contribute to advancing the field.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
It is a good time for young people to pursue a career in mental health. There is a greater awareness that mental wellbeing should belong to everyone. It is advisable to be guided by senior colleagues to clarify doubts and ask for suggestions, combining your enthusiasm with their experience.
There is no one right approach in mental health. Always listen.
Melanie Mack, Maritta Välimäki, and Maria Castaner remind us of the complexity within mental health and wellbeing, highlighting the importance of an open-minded and respectful approach toward the unique experiences of each individual.
Melanie Mack, University of Geneva – Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerabilities (CIGEV)
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
I landed working as a researcher in mental health, driven by my interest in discovering non-pharmacological interventions to maintain and improve the quality of life for the elderly. In addition to cognitive and physical health, mental health is essential for maintaining an independent and high-quality life into old age.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
Keep in mind that every person is unique. There's not just one right way to approach the topic of mental health!
Maritta Välimäki, Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku and School of Public Health, University of Helsinki
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
I have been working in mental health and mental health research during the last decades. I value supporting those people's well-being who are usually excluded from the society.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
Listen, be open-minded, and be respectful toward other people.
Maria Marti Castaner, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
My motivations changed over time. I studied psychology because I wanted to better understand why people think, behave, or feel the way they do. There were also personal reasons. My grandmother had to flee the Spanish Civil War with all her siblings and other children, lost her mother at a young age, and experienced many adversities during her childhood. She was such a strong woman. So, I think I was very curious to understand how the experiences we have shape who we are and what makes some people experience mental health struggles while others thrive. Now, one of the things that keeps me excited about my job is developing better ways to prevent mental distress, including changing structures that put people in vulnerable positions.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
Be curious, reflective, and critical all the time. The field of mental health is very diverse, bringing together people with various backgrounds and disciplines. So, be open to learning from colleagues who offer different perspectives, knowledge, and methodologies, as we strive to do in ADVANCE. Even more importantly, we have to remind ourselves that mental health is embedded in socio-cultural and political contexts, and there is no single definition of what constitutes good mental health. So, listen to how individuals and communities experience their own mental health, especially if you're involved in intervention research. This will help us all to be more humble in the work we do, and develop and implement mental health interventions that lead to more sustained changes
Mental health scholars come in many shapes and sizes
The field of mental health research is broad and interdisciplinary. Amber Brizar, Raquel Teixeira, Austeja Dumarkaite, and Andrea Bidoli all underscore the value of exploring various aspects of mental health, from clinical practice to policy-making, and the significant contributions that can be made by individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Amber Brizar, Organizational Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
Through my experience studying and working in the business field, I've come to recognize the profound effect that leadership can have on the mental well-being of 'followers'. My objective is to enable leaders to handle this influence in a manner that is both effective and appropriate.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
Drawing from my interdisciplinary background, I recommend being open to opportunities that might be outside of your direct scope of interest or experience. Venturing outside your comfort zone can provide valuable insights and broaden your understanding of the multifaceted nature of mental health.
Raquel Teixeira, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto (ISPUP)
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
As a dedicated public health researcher, my passion lies in participatory research and advocacy for vulnerable groups. These have led me to the dynamic mental health landscape, where I can use my knowledge to promote mental health equity through collaborative engagement with those most affected
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
My advice would be to explore the field through internships and volunteering in mental health organizations, or shadowing professionals to understand the different roles and settings within mental health and find out which ones are a good fit for you.
Austeja Dumarkaite, Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
My choice to pursue a career in mental health has changed over time. I started with an administrative position and then went to clinical practice. Now, I am primarily involved in research and the academic field. So, there are a lot of possibilities in the mental health field - it is not static, and that is one thing that I like. But most importantly, I am interested in people and their well-being. I believe it is essential. I think there are no more critical things than health, each other’s understanding, and mutual care.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
If you are interested in mental health and considering a career in this field, I definitely recommend it. Let yourself try, experience, practice, learn - that’s how you know whether you really like it or not. In my personal experience, it is a vast field - beginning with very diverse clinical practice and ending with providing recommendations to policymakers. One can try various aspects of the field. So, anyone interested in mental health can find the right place for themselves.
Andrea Bidoli, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
My background is in gender and health, more than mental health specifically. After an MSc in Global health, I worked in Brussels for a couple of years, in an NGO focusing on health inequalities and a health policy consultancy, before joining academia for a PhD project on the ethics of reproductive technologies. All these experiences made me a strong supporter of gender mainstreaming and the 'Health in All Policies' approach, and deeply aware of how the mental wellbeing of certain population groups (e.g., women and pregnant people) is systematically more at risk. This made my current position in ADVANCE particularly engaging, as its goal is to explore how structural injustices reinforce mental health disparities and to improve interdisciplary approaches.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
My advice would be the one I gave myself. Even if you are not clinically trained, that does not mean you cannot make meaningful contributions to the field. Public mental health is a broad discipline that not only benefits from inputs of various different specialties, but needs them. It proves constantly more important to address the tremendous impact of the social determinants of mental health when developing policies and interventions. As such, experts in sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, ethics, as well as, for instance, urban design and many more specialties, can play a key role in improving mental health initiatives and measures.
So, if you believe your experience and expertise bring an added value, do not be discouraged by thinking you do not fit in the field. Mental health scholars come in many shapes and sizes!
Keep your passion burning
Yu-Rou Tsai, Manuela De Allegri, Maija Satamo, and Hoa Thi Nguyen speak to the importance of persistence and holding on to what got you started in the face of challenges.
Yu-Rou Tsai, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
I had the opportunity to volunteer in residential facilities, where I met people suffering from chronic mental disorders when I was a medical student. Despite their struggles with severe mental illness, they embraced the world with their warm souls. It was during this experience that I began to wonder how to strengthen resilience in mental health and well-being.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
It is full of hard but meaningful work. There might be moments of getting frustrated, but please do not forget what brought you here. When everyone is on board, we are moving forward.
Manuela De Allegri, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health - Heidelberg University
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
My career does not focus exclusively on mental health. As health economist, mental health is one of various focus areas. It started by chance through a collaboration with a group of committed psychologists a few years back and it grew over time, given the high thematic relevance in today’s society.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
Keep the passion and the commitment to pursue your professional dreams, even when the path may not appear so clearly ahead of you. You will always find your way.
Maija Satamo, University of Turku, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing Science
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
As a young nurse and researcher, I have continued my career working with mental health problems. I am interested in therapeutic approach in nursing and research.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
Seize the opportunities that come your way.
Hoa Thi Nguyen, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed many of my friends and colleagues sufferring from mental health problems, but not receiving timely and adequate care. At that same time, I had the opportunity to work with the group of leading mental health prosessionals to identify the optimal strategy of delivering an inovative intervention in routine mental healthcare in Europe. I love this work and continue to expand my research to this field since then.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
We can make effective mental health care assessible to many more people in need if we know how to spend our resources more efficiently and how to mobilize more resources to promote mental health and well-being.
Do not forget to take care of your own mental health
Lastly, Sanne Feenstra and Agniete Kairyte reminded us to walk the talk and make sure to also prioritise your own mental health and wellbeing.
Sanne Feenstra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
My research initially focused on power dynamics in organizations. Since then I have become more interested in how these power dynamics influence the well-being and mental health of workers.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
I think it is a very valuable to consider working in the area of mental health nowadays and also important to consider your own mental health and well being while doing so.
Agniete Kairyte, Institute of Psychology, Center for Psychotraumatology, Vilnius University
Why did you choose to pursue a career in mental health?
My entrance to psychology studies was kind of accidental - back in my school years, I had never wondered to become a psychologist. I was interested in various study areas - from biomedical studies to arts. So, I have chosen somewhat in between. Then, during my bachelor studies, I met many inspiring lecturers, professors, and scientists who were also incredible human beings. They opened a broader understanding of psychology and influenced me to stick with psychology and mental health scientific areas for longer.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a career in mental health?
I advise young people to try as hard as possible not to stay alone in an area they want to work. Find a team or community of same-minded people where you feel safe sharing and discussing your ideas or doubts, motivating each other, etc. Also, mental health could be a complex topic, so do not forget to take care of yourself in the first place!
Mental health is a complex, interdisciplinary field. With the increasing recognition that mental health has become one of today's most pressing challenges, the call to action is resounding: more women and girls from all disciplines are urged to join the ranks of those addressing mental health. The diversity of thought, experience, and expertise you bring can not only challenge existing paradigms but also pave the way for more equitable, effective, and compassionate mental health innovation.
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Joyce Anne Quinto
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joyce.quinto@sund.ku.dk
The ADVANCE project has received funding from the EU Horizon Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101080323. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.