Women’s Depression Across the Lifespan | Scott Douglas Jacobsen & Dr. Aninda Sidhana

How do biology, culture, relationships, and gender expectations shape women’s depression—and what helps women recover?

In this episode of The Listening Commons, Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Dr. Aninda Sidhana explore women’s depression across the lifespan, examining hormonal influences, psychological experiences, social pressures, and the demands of work and caregiving.

Their conversation covers the neurobiology of depression, stigma, loneliness, suicide risk, resilience, emotional intelligence, treatment, and recovery. They also discuss how partners and families can offer meaningful support through listening, trust, and respect—and why mental health advocacy must move from awareness toward practical action.

About the speakers

Scott Douglas Jacobsen is a Canadian independent journalist, publisher, editor, and humanist. Founder of In-Sight and leader of In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Interviews, his work spans science, ethics, secularism, politics, gender equality, and human rights, including international engagement on Ukraine and press freedom.

Dr. Aninda Sidhana is an Indian psychiatrist, psychosexual medicine specialist, and mental health advocate. She is National President of the WICCI National Women’s Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellness Council, a UN SDG Goodwill Ambassador, and an ISDRC Geneva Next Generation Leader Fellow. Her work focuses on women’s mental health, trauma-informed care, gender-based violence, sexual wellbeing, and survivor-centred advocacy.

As founder of The Dignity Dialogues™ and co-host of The Listening Commons, she connects clinical psychiatry with storytelling, responsible mental health communication, and public dialogue rooted in human dignity.

Listen for a thoughtful discussion on understanding depression in women, supporting loved ones, and building more compassionate pathways to care.

More conversations: https://listeningcommons.com