All In Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women's Mental Health

by Misty Pratt

This provocative, deeply personal book explores how women experience mental health care differently than men––and lays out how the system must change for women to flourish.

Why are so many women feeling anxious, stressed out, and depressed, and why are they not getting the help they need? Over the past decade, mood disorders have skyrocketed among women, who are twice as likely to be diagnosed as men. Yet in a healthcare system steeped in gender bias, women’s complaints are often dismissed, their normal emotions are pathologized, and treatments routinely fail to address the root causes of their distress. Women living at the crossroads of racial, economic, and other identities face additional barriers. How can we pinpoint what’s wrong with women’s mental health, and what needs to change?

In All in Her Head , biomedical researcher Misty Pratt embarks on a crucial investigation, painting a picture of a system that is failing women on multiple levels. Pratt, who shares her own history of mental illness, explores the stereotypes that have shaped how we understand and treat women’s distress, from the Ancient Greek concept of “hysteria” to today’s self-help solutions. Weaving together science and women’s personal stories, All in Her Head debunks mental health myths and challenges misconceptions, addressing the following questions:

- When did normal emotions become symptoms of a disorder?
- What are specific risk factors for common mental disorders that disproportionately affect women?
- How did “burnout” become a women’s disease?
- What can we do to make peace with our moods and embrace the gifts of our emotions?

Pratt also tackles the thorny topic of medication, taking a nuanced and evidence-based approach. Women who present at their doctor’s office with depression, anxiety, or stress are often prescribed antidepressants as a first-line at least one in four American women are now taking these medications. Antidepressants have a real effect that can be helpful for some individuals; however, Pratt persuasively argues that our current approach ignores the underlying causes of most women’s depressive symptoms.

Today, a rising movement of women is demanding better when it comes to mental health treatment. Armed with the latest science, insight from those who have been through the therapeutic system, and enough humor to lighten the load, All in Her Head provides women with hope and courage to reframe and reclaim their mental health.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Mental Health, Psychology, History, Womens, Health

Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Misty Pratt is a science communicator and author of the book All In Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women's Mental Health. With over a decade of experience working in the field of biomedical research, Misty unpacks how personal and systemic biases have shaped our scientific understanding of disease and wellness. In her day job, Misty is interim director for an independent research institute in Toronto that leads cutting-edge studies evaluating healthcare delivery and outcomes. Misty has written for publications including Chatelaine, Mindful.org, and Today's Parent, and is an advocate for better mental health care. She lives in Ottawa with her family and her mischievous pug, Winnie. All In Her Head is her first book and was a finalist for the Ottawa Book Awards in the non-fiction category.

Reviews

[Ann Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a pre-publication copy of this book. This is the comment I sent to the publisher.

"Beautifully written and meticulously researched, All in Her Head is one part medical mystery and one part group therapy session. If you’ve ever felt frustrated or exhausted by painfully simplistic one-size-fits-all mental health advice, you’ll appreciate the wise, compassionate, and unapologetically political voice of Misty Pratt. Her key takeaway message? It doesn’t have to be this way. Women deserve so much better."

You'll definitely want to keep an eye out for this one.

[Alice Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Instead of diagnosing women as mentally ill, I would love to see a world in which diagnose our own society is disordered and turn our attention to the structures of power that have serious consequences for women’s emotional health.”

I really enjoyed this. This book is a clear and concise overview of the various pitfalls that face the women's mental health sphere in today's society and the ways in which we can strive to overcome them. Pratt did a great job of covering a wide variety of topics here such as the stigma behind women and hysteria, gender bias in Health Care, what role the Patriarchy has on women's health etc. I personally really enjoyed the Promises & Pitfalls of Therapy chapter as it addressed whole body healing and getting to the root of mental health and why certain traditional tools might not work for everyone in regard to managing mental health.

On a personal note, the chapter that covers socialization and women's gender roles and how they can get in the way of mental health really struck a chord with me. Especially this blurb:

“Our gendered socialization teaches us to give without limits, to expect nothing in return, and to bury ourselves in the process.”

I know as a woman myself, after having watched my mother been a caregiver and primary breadwinner growing up how everything else (mental health especially!) can take a backseat to those other responsibilities.

Four stars for All in Her Head. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[GCCreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fascinating topic, but the execution is dreadful. Science writing at its worst -- the author simply is not an expert in this topic and it shows. Quotes one scientific study after another with no unifying tread and with seemingly very tenuous grasp of the scientific literature.

Tries to cover too much ground, and ends up saying very little of substance. For instance, in the chapter about pharmacological drugs the author felt the need to explain the basics of neurotransmission and provides a psych 101 illustration of a neuron and synapse... why?!

Gets lost in the weeds over and over again. I lost track of how many times the phrase "more research is needed" was used -- that's a fairly standard statement most researchers will throw into the conclusion of a journal article, and the author seems to parrot this as though it is deep or meaningful.

Bizarrely, the author also focuses excessively on the biological underpinnings of mental illness. This was odd as biological differences are not a key driver of gender bias in the provision of mental health care.

I had high hopes, but this book is a disappointment. It simply does not deliver what it promises... it adds nothing impactful to the exploration of how gender bias impacts women's mental health. I will be reading Andrew Scull's book on the history of hysteria, which I know will be worth my time.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty Pratt’s All in Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women’s Mental Health is a meticulously researched, timely, and vital exploration of gender and mental health. Why do women experience mental health care different from men? Why are so many girls and women getting diagnosed with anxiety and depression? Why are women not getting the adequate care they need?

Drawing from her own mental health experience and being moved by an interview on CBC’s Tapestry in which the poet John O’Donoghue says “There is a place inside of us where we are not broken,” Misty decided to question her own values and beliefs about mental health in her own life.

The author delves into the stereotypes and biases that influence how women’s mental health is understood and treated. Women often feel that their health concerns are dismissed. The current medical system often doesn’t look at the root cause of women’s emotions or take into consideration factors such as socio-economic status, age, race, sexual orientation or identity. Other important topics covered in this book include chapters on how mental health can be related to patriarchy, hormones, and burnout as well as the benefits and limitations of treatment options like therapy and medications.

A major strength of the book is how the author intertwines her own personal experience and the stories from other women (of diverse backgrounds) with her research. It’s personal and vulnerable and
paints a vivid picture of how women from different backgrounds have been affected by mental health in their own lives.

The author states that there is no cure for mental illness, but there can be healing. She acknowledges that healing can be complicated and there isn’t a one size fits all approach for everyone. Pratt outlines the current treatment options available and also shares her own story of what has helped her heal.

This book is both relatable and informative and it touched me deeply. Whether you have experienced mental health issues in your own life or with a loved one this book will move you, make you feel seen, and empower you.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A textbook that read like a novel. It was affirming to what I have and am going through. Thank you!

[Lija · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about being a woman in this world struggling with and treating mental health. Unfortunately, there’s still a huge gap in data regarding this, and even more so when it comes to minority groups and the LGBTQ+ community. I liked the anecdotal evidence as it really shows that it’s not black and white. Mental health really needs to be examined and treated on an individual basis, taking into consideration social, economic, physical, and age aspects, plus so much more. In short, the system simply isn’t built to serve us, yet, and we have a long way to go.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It reads like a White Woman Talking and guess who wrote the book?

While there were some useful tidbits on the history of hysteria and the treatment of depression / anxiety, the way she dismisses certain studies as “more research / data is required” but advocates for “spend more time in nature” remedies (a singular study with limited participants) is absurd.

This book was far too long and honestly too full of anecdotes from either the authors life or other women that didn’t contribute to the overall discussion imo.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so incredibly misleading. In the end it's exactly what I hate : using women's suffering to promote pseudo science. Regular medicine and science failing us is not a reason to promote shit like naturopathic "remedies".

[Paul Sutter]

ALL IN HER HEAD (HOW GENDER BIAS HARMS WOMEN’S HEALTH), is a fascinating look into the world of mental health issues and sex. Speaking personally, I had a family doctor who treated my grandparents in the 1970’s. If my grandfather had issues, the doctor prescribed something, but when my grandmother complained of her body not feeling right, the doctor told her more than once, “it’s just your nerves.” Nothing was prescribed but a week later, my grandmother was rushed to emergency and spit up a massive blood clot, that if she hadn’t likely would have killed her. Nerves indeed.
Misty Pratt relates her own personal problems, and her own personal mental health issues that showed great bias when she was treated. One of the doctors who looked at her after a variety of tests had been completed, concluded she needed to reduce stress. She notes in the introduction that “when I set out to write this book, I knew I wanted it to be about women’s mental health and mental illness, as it’s currently understood in our medical system, culture, and society.”
She succeeds with one informative chapter after another, that delves deeply into the bias that women face on all levels. She did take anti-depressants at various stages of her life, and doctors seemed more content on telling her to stay the course with the medication, than looking into the root causes.
This is steeped in history as well with over the centuries, women’s health issues were acted upon differently than males. She also notes that worldwide, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. There is so much more involved in diagnosis and treatment that can of course be traced totally to sexism and racism.
There are so many more obstacles females face, and there is an interesting section on perfectionism. This too can be traced back to different expectancies heaped upon females than males. Women fight and strive harder to be accepted and be perceived as equals in many cultures, leading to more mental health issues and challenges.
The author in the chapter From Hysteria To Healing, offers methods that can help with mental health concerns. She talks about yoga and meditation as ways to give a sort of inner peace in a troubled spirit. As well, she points out to nature as being a healer also. Spending time outdoors can also assist in a sort of spiritual cleansing of sorts.
The main point Missy Pratt makes is she says, “there is no cure for mental illness, but there can be healing.” She concludes with pain and suffering is not in women’s heads, it is also in their brains, minds and bodies. “To recover from this is to acknowledge that we all contribute to this pain and that we all have a responsibility to heal.” ALL IN HER HEAD is the first step toward letting the healing begin.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and the premise was something that caught my eye right away. However, it didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had for it.

Things I liked
-I liked that the author is Canadian and there was a lot about the Canadian healthcare system
-I did learn some new things
-I liked how Pratt was very open about her own struggles and of her position as a cis white woman from an upper-middle class household and that she was clear that she wasn’t speaking for all women.

Things that were meh
-I found that her take on therapy and medication was more anti, in some cases. While it might not be a permanent fix for her (or for anyone), just having access to those things can be life changing for some. And it can be dangerous to suggest otherwise.
-I am a woman who has mental health issues and is aware of a lot of things already. My husband works in the healthcare system and is incredibly supportive. Not a lot of this was new.
-it’s written more like a stream of thought, at times, rather than an essay. Sometimes it jumps from topic to topic and back again and it’s a bit jarring. Some people have written reviews that they like that it isn’t like a textbook. I don’t mind that either, but I just wish it was done better.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished this book because it was selected for book club. And then I found out that it was the wrong book. Whoops!

[Rev · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting enough to keep me reading—I appreciated the anecdotes from different women and their experiences with mental illness/treatments and the push for a more holistic (biopsychosocial) view when dealing with mental illness.

The writing is accessible and it was a more or less smooth read.

As with any book that purports to focus on the experience of female bodies, I have a bone to pick with the authors who then state that when they write “woman” they are referring to anyone who identifies as a woman. This just confuses the whole premise of the book and convolutes areas of study that have been grossly overlooked.

[Madison Veltri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Agata · Rating 2 out of 5]

W Polsce wydaje się może 20, a może 40 książek rocznie w przyzwoitym przekładzie i z sensowną redakcją. Tak sobie strzelam, ale 90% literatury popularnonaukowej w wersji spolszczonej to chała niedbała. I w moim odczuciu na tę książkę sensowny zespół tłumaczeniowo-redaktorski się akurat zmarnował, bo rzecz jest generalnie słaba.
- "Nie chcę opowiadać tylko perspektywy białych kobiet", a następnie opowiadana jest perspektywa białej kobiety z Kanady. Serio, opieka zdrowotna rzadko gdzie jest wybitna. Z tego, co autorka pisze, raczej ma CHOLERNE SZCZĘŚCIE, a nie rozległego pecha. Trzeba czekać 2-3 miesiące na konsultację państwową? Potrzymaj mi piwo...
- Mamy tutaj mieszankę osobistych doświadczeń i czegoś typu badania, ale te badania są serwowane co najmniej dziwnie. Kobiety nie mają specjalnych wahań w cyklu miesięcznym, ale mężczyźni mają swoje w dziennym. Aha. No chyba że mówimy o kortyzolu, to wtedy nagle wahania inne dla kobiecego ciała są superważne.
- Widać, słychać i czuć, że autorka była rozczarowana tym, że w systemie opieki zdrowotnej uważano jej mózg za zepsuty i proponowano jej leki, bo przecież niektóre reakcje na trudności życiowe są naturalne, a nie chorobowe. No, tylko że książka za bardzo nie wyjaśnia, na jakie naturalne trudności autorka reagowała tak mocno, poza ciążami (a problemy zaczęły się wcześniej).
- Interesujące obserwacje co do relacji wielu osób dotyczących odstawienia SSRI. Tutaj pewnie by się przydało jakieś porządne badanie (jeśli treść książki jest zweryfikowana i faktycznie badań naukowych było mało, a pacjentki często zgłaszają mocne skutki uboczne).
- Dość zdroworozsądkowe podejście do lęków - tak, ruminacje i niepokoje mogą jak najbardziej być skutkiem sytuacji w kapitalizmie albo przemocy albo naszej nadgorliwej rodziny, która była lękowa i zawracała nam głowę co dwie minuty, na teoretycznie ugruntowanych podstawach (kobiecie może stać się krzywda). Faktycznie systemowe zmiany zlikwidowałyby część z tych problemów.
- Alternatywa dla leczenia systemowego? Proszę pomedytować i postać boso na trawie.
Fenomenalnie, trochę kontaktu z naturą nikomu nie zaszkodzi (medytacje już mogą!), ale jest to dla mnie dużo mniej poważne traktowanie mojego zdrowia psychicznego niż praca osoby, która próbuje mi jakoś uzupełnić neuroprzekaźniki w mózgu.
- Tytuł książki w zasadzie mówi dokładnie co innego niż jej treść. Autorka chyba chciałaby mniej diagnozowania kobiet, mniej systemowego leczenia, mniej kiepskich terapeutów i ogólnie lepszego świata i trochę stania na trawie. Ładne, ale szalenie naiwne.
Ogólnie meeeeeeeh. Criado Perez to nie jest. Nawet Whitaker to nie jest.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty Pratt’s All in Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women’s Mental Health is a meticulously researched, timely, and vital exploration of gender and mental health. Why do women experience mental health care different from men? Why are so many girls and women getting diagnosed with anxiety and depression? Why are women not getting the adequate care they need?

Drawing from her own mental health experience and being moved by an interview on CBC’s Tapestry in which the poet John O’Donoghue says “There is a place inside of us where we are not broken,” Misty decided to question her own values and beliefs about mental health in her own life.

The author delves into the stereotypes and biases that influence how women’s mental health is understood and treated. Women often feel that their health concerns are dismissed. The current medical system often doesn’t look at the root cause of women’s emotions or take into consideration factors such as socio-economic status, age, race, sexual orientation or identity. Other important topics covered in this book include chapters on how mental health can be related to patriarchy, hormones, and burnout as well as the benefits and limitations of treatment options like therapy and medications.

A major strength of the book is how the author intertwines her own personal experience and the stories from other women (of diverse backgrounds) with her research. It’s personal and vulnerable and
paints a vivid picture of how women from different backgrounds have been affected by mental health in their own lives.

The author states that there is no cure for mental illness, but there can be healing. She acknowledges that healing can be complicated and there isn’t a one size fits all approach for everyone. Pratt outlines the current treatment options available and also shares her own story of what has helped her heal.

This book is both relatable and informative and it touched me deeply. Whether you have experienced mental health issues in your own life or with a loved one this book will move you, make you feel seen, and empower you.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't intend to read this book at first. I picked it up thinking it was another book that had the same title but a different author. Nevertheless, I still found the topic interesting, and I learned a lot about women's mental health from this book.

I found it fascinating and shocking when learning about the history and reality of how women were treated in the study of mental disorders. The ridiculous theories of men, especially Freud 🙄, and the treatment of women suffering mentally in the past go to show how gender bias has been evident since the beginnings of the study of the mind. Not only that, but gender bias continues to be ubiquitous in the scientific field with the lack of proper research done specifically for women.

I also learned about the role women's hormonal cycle plays on women's mood, energy, and mental health, and it really shined a light on how many frustrations, confusions, and difficulties women face throughout life can be attributed to large shifts in their hormones. I learned how mental disorders are more likely to happen to women when they undergo events in their life that involve large shifts in their hormone levels.

This book goes on about how, in addition to the severe lack of attention given to women in mental health studies and research, society and its expectations of women are sort of built to make life harder for women. It's heartbreaking to know that, on top of all of this, women have been told that there was something intrinsically wrong with them for so long when the real problem was something much larger that was built off of hundreds of years of the patriarchy and white supremacy.

I appreciate and commend Pratt for her deep dive into this topic, her scientific research-style paper mixed with personal stories from women of different backgrounds, and her suggestions for change to better support all women in a field where they have been and still are disadvantaged due to gender bias.

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I'm someone who works in ~ the field ~ I must do all kinds of readings related to mental health and stuff to know what's up. And, of course, as a woman, I'm always interested in knowing about the intersection of women and whatever I'm doing.

"All In Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women's Mental Health" by Misty Pratt is a pretty good book than covers exactly what the title says. Having read other books around women and health, this didn't so much give new information (how the entire medical field is underfunded and underresearched when it comes to every aspect of women's health; how medication tested on men is given to women without consideration for how it could impact us differently etc) as it covered various angles around women and mental health.

What I really liked about the author's approach was how holistic it is - she doesn't present pharmaceuticals as the answer to everything, and holds a healthy critical attitude towards Big Pharma and the philosophy that mental health can be "fixed" with medicine, but she also recognizes the value that medication can have for people at different stages in their lives.

She talks about poverty, access to mental Healthcare, extended support networks through family and community, the importance of carving out time for creativity, understanding negative emotions as part of the human experience (and knowing when it tips into something truly unhealthy), and even the role of spirituality in mental health healing.

I especially loved a particular section about "awe" (in the context of nature) which as a Muslim correlates directly to our relationship with Allah and how we are commanded to observe the world around us to develop exactly that sense of awe.

This was a fairly easy read and connected a lot of different aspects around mental health, not just focusing on the "medical," which I found very refreshing. Definitely recommend!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

According to Misty Pratt in the last few decades mental health problems have skyrocketed and women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mood disorder compared to men. So why is that? Are women suffering from mental illness more than men? Are the higher numbers because more people are seeking help? Pratt, who is a medical researcher, attempts to answer some of these questions with this book. Pratt suffered from depression and anxiety herself and also saw mental illness affect many of the women in her family so this is a personal issue for her as well.

I liked the book in the beginning but then it started to feel somewhat repetitive. She also doesn't really provide any answers to if or why women are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness. What it seemed to point out more to me was that mental illness overall (regardless of gender) is very under-researched and there are often no clear answers as to why someone becomes mentally ill or what (if anything) will help them long-term. I was also a little surprised that the last chapter was all suggestions of non-medication, non-therapy treatments like yoga, probiotics, being in nature, and spirituality. Not that those things aren't helpful probably to anyone, but the whole book seemed to be focused on medical and psychiatric treatment so it seemed odd to include that as the last chapter. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this one. It was kind of all over the place and didn't really give any possible solutions for this over-arching issue.

[julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gigantyczne rozczarowanie.

Autorka przyznaje się w tekście dosyć szybko, że nie jest specjalistką w temacie, o którym pisze, a niniejsza książka jest, niestety, tego jasnym obrazem. Zakres tematyczny pracy jest niezwykle szeroki, ale potraktowany został bardzo powierzchownie. Wyniki badań są przytaczane chaotycznie, bez składu mieszając się z opisami prywatnych doświadczeń autorki i jej subiektywnych przemyśleń.

Najbardziej zirytowało mnie jednak, jak mało uwagi poświęcone zostało tematowi obiecywanemu w tytule. Odnośnie wpływu uprzedzeń płciowych (jak zakładałam, występujących w systemie opieki zdrowia psychicznego) nie dowiedziałam się podczas lektury właściwie niczego nowego. Dużo jest tutaj natomiast teoretyzowania (ponownie, chaotyczne cytowanie wyników badań) odnośnie tego, że różnice płciowe wpływają na inny obraz kliniczny różnych zaburzeń psychicznych wśród kobiet i mężczyzn. O samym podejściu psychiatrów, psychologów i psychoterapeutów do kobiet nie można jednak dowiedzieć się z tej książki zbyt wiele ponad frazesy (popierane jedynie dowodami anegdotycznymi).

Jest to pozycja próbująca udawać naukową, a konkluzja zawarta w ostatnim rozdziale (psychiatria i psychoterapia zawodzą kobiety, pozostaje więc zainteresować się medycyną alternatywną) jest co najmniej bulwersująca.

[Entropia Kontrolowana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookstagram: Entropia Kontrolowana

Gdybym jednym słowem miała określić pracę Misty Pratt, byłoby to: zniuansowanie.

To nie jest książka o tym, dlaczego powinniśmy dbać o zdrowie psychiczne. Umówmy się — od tego są inne publikacje. To dogłębna analiza stanu zdrowia psychicznego wszystkich osób z macicą oraz identyfikujących się jako kobiety.

Od ujęcia stricte biologicznego (nasze kochane hormony),poprzez krótką historię postrzegania kwestii zdrowia psychicznego (tzw. histeria),aż po szczegółowe doświadczenia osób z różnych klas społecznych i o różnym pochodzeniu etnicznym.

Dla mnie była to niełatwa (choć nie aż tak osobista, jak się spodziewałam) przeprawa. Nie jestem niestety wyjątkiem i sama doświadczam problemów z tym aspektem zdrowia. Niemniej jednak To tylko w jej głowie nie jest, moim zdaniem, pisana z myślą o autopomocy — choć uświadomienie sobie niektórych kwestii może pośrednio przyczynić się do wsparcia osoby w kryzysie psychicznym.

Kurczę, jest mi strasznie przykro, bo generalna konkluzja płynąca z tej książki nie jest wcale pozytywna (nie wiem, czego się spodziewałam, biorąc pod uwagę, z jak wieloma problemami zmagamy się ogólnie w kontekście chorób psychicznych).

Kiedy jednak nakładamy na już istniejące problemy dodatkowy kontekst związany z seksizmem, patriarchatem oraz uprzedzeniami klasowymi i etnicznymi, całość robi się naprawdę niewesoła. Wyjdźmy jednak z założenia, że uświadomienie problemu to pierwszy krok do wprowadzenia pozytywnych zmian — nawet zaczynając od mikro skali.

Myślę, że nawet jeśli macie mgliste pojęcie o kwestiach zdrowia psychicznego, warto sięgnąć po tę pozycję ze względu na jej wieloaspektowe potraktowanie tematu oraz zebranie go w sensowną, porządkującą całość.

[Współpraca barterowa]

[lindsay.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this non-fiction book about women’s mental health, including diagnosis and treatment, and how the environment and society at large impacts their experience. Lots of thought-provoking content, including how society shapes what’s considered normal vs a diagnosable disorder or disease, the risk factors that tend to affect women more than men, and the challenges with taking medication.

I did struggle a little with the format; it’s a combination memoir vs science book, with the author’s experiences presented alongside research and history. At times it wasn’t clear what was fact vs opinion, and I found some of the information was presented through the author’s own lens based on her personal experiences. Not a bad thing but I think I prefer a more straightforward non-fiction book (like a textbook I guess).

[Jamie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and informative walk-through of women's mental healthcare as it currently stands, and why it's terrible. It's more personal than scholarly, which gives it an interesting angle, but it's not so personal that it isn't trustworthy. It's also missing the surprise transphobia of the other All in Her Head I read this year, which I appreciated.

[Ann Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I posted this a few months back, but the review seems to have disappeared, so here it is again. (This is the pre-publication blurb I provided to the book publisher, after reading an advance copy of the book.)

"Beautifully written and meticulously researched, All in Her Head is one part medical mystery and one part group therapy session. If you’ve ever felt frustrated or exhausted by painfully simplistic one-size-fits-all mental health advice, you’ll appreciate the wise, compassionate, and unapologetically political voice of Misty Pratt. Her key takeaway message? It doesn’t have to be this way. Women deserve so much better."

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so educational. There is so little research on women's mental health and this was kind of astonishing in it's revelations of a broken system and the society that brokenness creates.
Some of the phrases in this book are phrases I have heard for a majority of my life. It was almost validating in a way - to know that there are so many women dealing with mental health situations.

This was an impressive nonfiction read about an under studied area of health.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extremely interesting! It was very informative. Misty Pratt adds her struggles with mental illness and other women's stories to bring a human aspect to the multitude of data and analytics that are presented. You are given real-life examples to show that there are people behind these statistics.

If you are interested in mental health at all, I highly recommend this.

[Amy Boughner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way this book was written, more personalized than academic, but with expertise. It also struck me particularly because the author's experience is similar to my own and a lot of the stories shared rung true.
It is very interesting to know what research has been done and is being done, and just enjoying the fact that this conversation is happening.

[Aundrea Newman-Waterhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the facts and history she wove into the book. Being in medicine, I've learned about different things such as hysteria and its unfortunate effects on women's healthcare. She brought to light some good points and good advice.

[Muneeza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interview me next babes.

LIKE UR TELLING ME A SYSTEM MADE BY RACIST WHITE MEN FOR ONLY OTHER RACIST WHITE MEN STOPED TO CONSIDER WOMEN WHEN SETTING UP EVERYYYYYY ASPECT OF THE ENITEREER SYSTEM?!?!? ya hellllllll no. Ew. Let women process emotions without featuring them in the DSM

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. A subject women should talk more about. Put into words how I've felt throughout my life in each stage of womanhood.

[maven · Rating 1 out of 5]

Funny, I remember rating this book several months ago and somehow my rating disappeared. I would hope it wasn't removed because it wasn't a positive review...