Indonesian women experience mental health problems more often than Indonesian men.

Indonesian women are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than men. This aligns with data collected by Our World in Data in 2019.

Our World in Data compiled data on at least five mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.

For anxiety disorders, the prevalence among Indonesian men was 2.7% in 2019. The prevalence among women was higher, at 4.5%.

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) explains that sufferers of this disorder experience significant worry, fear, and panic that disrupt daily activities and cause fatigue.

Next, the prevalence of depression among Indonesian men was 2%, while it was higher among women at 2.9%.

According to Kemenkes, depression is characterized by profound sadness accompanied by demotivation, fatigue, changes in sleep and eating patterns, lack of focus, and even suicidal thoughts.

(See also: Understanding Postpartum Depression Experienced by Mothers After Childbirth)

For bipolar disorder, the prevalence among Indonesian men was 0.33%. The proportion was the same for women.

Kemenkes explains that bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by drastic mood swings, for example, from extreme elation to severe depression.

Then there is schizophrenia, with a prevalence of 0.31% for men. In this disorder, the proportion for women is lower, at 0.27%.

Kemenkes explains that schizophrenia is a disorder of reality characterized by hallucinations, incoherent speech, feelings of alienation, and dangerous aggressive behavior such as destruction and harming others.

Finally, eating disorders had a prevalence of 0.09% for Indonesian men and 0.13% for women.

According to Hello Sehat, this disorder is characterized by unhealthy or abnormal eating patterns that prevent the body from receiving adequate nutrition and negatively impact the sufferer's emotional and mental well-being.

These disorders include anorexia nervosa (reluctance to eat due to fear of weight gain); bulimia nervosa (eating large amounts of food followed by purging); binge-eating disorder (uncontrollable overeating); rumination (repeated regurgitation of undigested food); avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (avoiding foods with specific sensory characteristics); and pica (eating non-nutritive substances).

Our World in Data states that poor mental health affects well-being, the ability to work, and relationships with friends, family, and society in general.

"It is estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience major depression in their lifetime. Other conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are less common but still have a significant impact on people's lives," writes Our World in Data on its website.

(See also: Only a Small Percentage of Indonesians Consult Professionals When Dealing with Mental Health Issues)