402: How Men and Women Experience Mental Health Differently: Biology, Hormones, Stress and Daily Life

The Natural Alternative - with Madonna Guy · Jul 17, 2026 · 48m

Madonna Guy and David Sheil explored the rising mental‑health challenges facing men and women in Australia. Current data shows mental health is the second biggest challenge for men and the top challenge for women, with antidepressant use in women increasing 15–20% since 2020.They discussed how biological differences shape mental‑health patterns:Women experience cyclical hormonal shifts (estrogen, progesterone) plus perimenopause/menopause changes that directly affect mood, anxiety, sleep, libido and stress tolerance.Men tend to externalise distress (anger, withdrawal, substance use), while…