Women’s Mental Health in Bloom March 2026

In what has been an extremely difficult month globally due to the war in Iran, I wanted to shine a light on a more positive global event that took place in March, part of our Women's Mental Health strategy and marking International Women's Day – the inaugural 'Women's Mental Health in Bloom' global webathon.

A collaboration of international psychiatric organisations led by RCPsych on a scale never seen before – a continuous 24-hour conversation crossing approximately 21 time zones, 90 countries and 80 speakers, with 1,113 unique organisations registered to hear different, local perspectives on a range of topics relating to women's mental health.

It started as a simple idea with other women leaders in America and Australia who had so valued the opportunity to come together and learn from each other at an International Association of Women’s Mental Health (IAWMH) conference, we didn’t want to wait another two years. When I suggested ‘why can’t we come together using technology?’ I never could have imagined a year later, through a collective willingness to run with the idea – and with fantastic sponsor, project and tech support – our ambition would be realised.

Global perspectives

It was an enormous undertaking and it was brilliant. Not just informative but enjoyable too. We heard experts and lived experience voices from Australia, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Europe, North America and Latin America, sharing research, clinical updates, telling stories, and poetry – highlighting global issues and best practice.

I co-chaired the Europe session with Professor Judith Usall I Rhodie, President of the IAWMH, with speakers from Switzerland, Spain and the UK talking about the mental health impacts of inequality and discrimination, perinatal psychosis, domestic abuse, menopause, prisons, ethics, gender bias and AI, preconception care for public and mental health and we also had powerful poetry readings from psychiatrists and women with lived experience. It was engaging and inspiring.

Each world region was free to develop their own three-hour programme in a way most relevant to them. Approaches varied but included Q&A, panel discussions, academic talks and videos covering topics from addiction, ageing, caregiving, crisis zones and culture, through to gender health gaps, hormones, misdiagnosis, leadership, personality disorder, spirituality, sports, tobacco, trauma and much more. In Latin America the whole session was delivered in Spanish, respecting local speakers and audience preference. Some would have seen parts of it, a few would have seen all 24 hours, depending on your topic interest and your time zone.

It showed that regions of the world are facing broadly the same challenges but in different contexts. An example of this is the insights we were given about women in prison from a UK, New Zealand and North American perspective. And it really highlighted geographic and cultural differences, for example witnessing ‘A day in the life’ of Dr Menze in Southern Africa who integrates western and traditional healing systems for mental health to best meet the needs of patients. It was fascinating.

Equity: a clinical necessity and a moral imperative

Across the world, we heard evidence and stories of how the marginalisation and abuse of women, particularly those in the most deprived circumstances, impacts their mental health and drives mental illness and experience and outcomes from mental health care. What was striking was that the finding that most women with mental health problems had been subject to some kind of trauma earlier in their life and thus reducing exposure to trauma and reducing deprivation on a population level would likely help to reduce mental illness presentations in women. Once a woman is mentally unwell, as with everyone else, timely access to effective treatment is crucial and will help limit chronicity and disability. This is why equity for women isn’t just a values-laden principle, it’s a clinical necessity – this really came to life through the event.

When you look at the evidence it’s clear that when things are more equitable outcomes are better for patients and therefore, equity is a leadership responsibility as well as a moral imperative. When we improve care and outcomes for women, especially those who are most often overlooked, we raise the standard of care for everyone.

Uniting our voices

I want to thank all our international and UK colleagues who got involved. Professor Gihan ELNahas, President-elect of the IAWMH described it perfectly as a 'great model and beautiful example of what happens when we unite our voices and efforts', thanking all contributors for their generosity and selflessness and for giving their best.

Plans are already underway to share the learning, with a desire from all to do it again in two years, continuing our commitment to promote and defend gender equity and enhance dialogue on women’s health globally.

The great thing is all the content was recorded and will be available shortly on the IAWMH website. If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions or would like to go onto a list for more information when available, please email ruth.adams@rcpsych.ac.uk.