Women’s Health Week runs from 7 to 11 September 2026, and this year’s theme is ‘Do it anyway’. It is a theme built around a simple and honest truth: there are always reasons to delay taking care of yourself. The timing is not quite right, there is too much on, other people’s needs come first, financial concerns or just that life gets in the way.

‘Do it anyway’ is an invitation to act despite those reasons. And when it comes to mental health, acting sooner rather than later makes a real difference.

Why women’s mental health deserves dedicated attention

Women experience mental health challenges at high rates, and the reasons are layered. Many women carry a disproportionate load of caring responsibilities, whether for children, ageing parents or both. They often navigate major hormonal shifts across the lifespan, including across the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and through perimenopause and menopause, all of which can have a significant impact on mood and mental health.

At the same time, women are often skilled at pushing through and choosing to manage it quietly rather than make a fuss.

Women’s Health Week is a good moment to put that list aside and pay attention to what is actually going on for you.

The mental health challenges that commonly affect women

While mental health concerns can affect anyone, there are some that women experience more frequently or in ways that are shaped by their specific circumstances.

Anxiety is among the most common mental health concerns experienced by women. It can look like persistent worry, physical tension, difficulty sleeping or a sense of being constantly on edge. It can also be easy to normalise, particularly for women who have been anxious for so long that it simply feels like their baseline.

Depression can present differently for different people. Alongside low mood and loss of interest, women may also experience pronounced fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and difficulty with concentration. Depression is also frequently linked to life transitions such as the postpartum period, perimenopause or significant loss.

Burnout is not a clinical diagnosis, but it is a real and increasingly common experience among women who are carrying significant load at work, at home or both. It tends to build gradually, and by the time it becomes impossible to ignore, it has usually been present for some time.

Perinatal mental health, covering the period of pregnancy and the first year after birth, is an area where many women are vulnerable. Perinatal depression and anxiety are far more common than many people realise, and both are treatable with the right support.

Small steps that make a real difference

The theme ‘Do it anyway’ is not about grand gestures or complete life overhauls. It is about the smaller actions that, taken consistently, support your mental health and make it easier to seek help when you need it.

Some of the things worth doing, even when other priorities are competing for your attention:

• Book a GP appointment if something has been on your mind for a while, including your mental health. Your GP can provide a referral for psychological support and help you understand the options available to you.
• Talk to someone you trust. Not to fix anything, just to say it out loud. Naming how you are feeling is often the first step toward doing something about it.
• Notice what is actually depleting you. For many women, it is not any single thing but the accumulation of many small things. Identifying the biggest drains is useful, even if you cannot change all of them immediately.
• Protect something that restores you. Whether it is movement, time outside, a creative outlet or simply quiet time without a screen, it does not need to be much, but it does need to be consistent.
• Look into what support is available before you need it urgently. Knowing your options means you are more likely to access them at the right time.

Women’s Health Week focuses at a glance

Here’s a practical yet simple plan for Women’s Health Week, from the organisers, that can help you prioritise yourself for the week – and every week if you can!

Day 1: To fuel

Seek oractical, honest information about the food habits that support how you feel day to day. Small, sustainable changes to the way you eat can have a meaningful effect on your energy and mood.

Day 2: To move

A challenge to the idea that exercise has to be intense or time-consuming to count. Any movement that fits into your actual life is far more valuable than a perfect routine you never start.

Day 3: To rest

Sleep is one of the most powerful tools for your health, and one of the hardest to protect. Day 3 makes the case for rest as a genuine health priority, not a luxury.

Day 4: To breathe

A focus on mental wellbeing and the many things that shape how you feel. A good day to consider whether you are getting the support you need.

Day 5: To connect

Social connection is a significant contributor to mental and emotional wellbeing. Whether it is reaching out to a friend, joining a community group or having a coffee with a neighbour, small steps toward connection are worth taking.

When to seek professional support

There is no threshold you need to meet before reaching out to a professional. You do not need to be in crisis. You do not need to have a diagnosis. You do not need to be certain that what you are experiencing is serious enough.

If your mood, anxiety or sense of wellbeing has been affecting your day-to-day life for more than a couple of weeks, that is reason enough to talk to someone. A GP is often the best starting point. From there, a Mental Health Care Plan can provide access to subsidised sessions with a psychologist or other mental health professional.

Some signs that it is worth seeking support sooner rather than later:

• Persistent low mood, flatness or feelings of hopelessness.
• Anxiety that is difficult to manage or that is getting in the way of everyday life.
• Exhaustion that does not ease with rest.
• Loss of interest in things you normally value.
• Increased reliance on alcohol or other ways of switching off.
• Feeling disconnected from yourself, your relationships or your life.
• Thoughts of self-harm or of not wanting to be here.

If you are experiencing that last point, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14, or contact your nearest emergency department. Support is available around the clock.

How Think Mental Health can help

Think Mental Health’s clinic offers psychology, psychiatry and GP services. Our clinical team works with women navigating a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, burnout, perinatal mental health, relationship difficulties and major life transitions.

We offer appointments in person and via telehealth, and our team can work with you to find an approach that fits your life. If you are unsure whether what you are experiencing warrants support, please do not let that uncertainty stop you from reaching out.

To make an appointment or find out more, visit thinkmh.com.au or speak to your GP about a referral.