ABSTRACT
Mental health disorders are highly prevalent, with women being more likely than men to experience either a mood or anxiety disorder. The aim of this chapter is to explore complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) use for the two most prevalent mental health conditions: depression and anxiety. We begin this chapter by outlining the worldwide prevalence of depression and anxiety, and present a brief review of these common mental health disorders. We also describe CIM use by women for the treatment of depression and anxiety, and the evidence base for the most commonly used CIM for these conditions. The model of integrative mental health care (IMHC) is explored and, we argue, is an important model for providing optimal mental health outcomes for women. Finally, we discuss the barriers to facilitating IMHC and identify research objectives for achieving quality IMHC for women.
