The 'Right to Feel' of Women with Mental Health Problems

Seven women share their experiences and reflections on the discrimination and stigma they suffer for being women and having a mental health disorder. Rosa, Mercè, Mari, Victòria, Maria, Marina and Lourdes are the protagonists of the documentary Dret a sentir , which the Catalan Mental Health Federation has produced as part of its Women and Mental Health program.

These testimonies bring us closer to the reality experienced by women with mental health problems in relation to their sexual and reproductive rights , which are often violated; motherhood; the care they receive from health services and some of the violence they suffer. But it also speaks of sisterhood, of sharing, of creating spaces for empowerment, support and recovery, some of the main objectives of this program that incorporates the gender perspective to talk about and address mental health.

The protagonists of the documentary have lived similar experiences with motherhood, with coercion when deciding freely to be mothers, both by professionals and by the environment. And in their testimonies important reflections appear on the little freedom to decide , despite being adults, the pressures they receive, which even make them rethink their decision, the questioning of others about whether they will be good mothers and what it means for some of them to "have to ask permission" to have a child.

The video also addresses the importance of the free exercise of sexuality and the role that health services often play in facilitating sexual and reproductive rights. In this regard, some of the voices denounce the side effects that medication often has and the lack of preparation of some professionals to deal with women who have problems beyond mental health, such as abuse or job and social precariousness.

Their voices are striking and bring us closer to a reality that is not very visible . Initiatives like this are therefore very necessary to incorporate the gender perspective into the mental health care model and to denounce the inequalities and discrimination that women suffer. Maria, one of the protagonists, sums it up this way: "You are trying to make a hole to get out of the circle; but help me make the hole, don't plug it, it's already hard enough for me!"