Mental health conditions impact all genders—but how they present may differ depending on gender. In addition, strong sociocultural forces—like the saying “Boys don’t cry”—can impact social and emotional development in kids. Variations in symptoms, coupled with differences in how genders are expected to display their emotions, can cause some conditions to go undetected.
How can we encourage kids of all genders to express emotion and how they’re mentally feeling? Where are these differences most impactful in mental health diagnoses and treatment? And how can we help break the stigma around children expressing how they’re truly feeling?
In this previously recorded session, Roberto Olivardia, PhD, discusses the impacts of stereotyping on mental health, highlights differences in presentation of mental illnesses between genders, and answers audience questions on how to be supportive of kids and their mental health.