Elevating the Role of Behavioral Health in Women’s Health

Statement of Need

Women experience a disproportionate burden of behavioral health conditions across their lifespan, yet unique clinical presentations often go underrecognized due to persistent stigma, gender disparities, and limited integration of mental health within women’s health care. From adolescence—when depression, anxiety, and eating disorders commonly emerge—through reproductive, perinatal, midlife, and older adult stages, women face distinct biological, psychological, and social stressors that influence both symptom expression and access to care. Validated screening tools can support early detection, but effective use requires clinicians to adopt culturally humble, patient-centered approaches that address social determinants of health as well as trauma and intersectional barriers. Integrating behavioral health into women’s health settings through collaborative, multidisciplinary care models is essential to improve engagement, reduce disparities, and optimize outcomes for women at every stage of life.

In this CME Outfitters Snack, part of a series on health equity, expert faculty examine how psychiatric conditions present in women across life stages, emphasizing effective screening, culturally sensitive communication, and integrated care strategies to improve engagement and behavioral health outcomes.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to better:

Assess the varying clinical and social presentations of common psychiatric conditions in women, from adolescence through older adulthood
Utilize validated screening tools (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7) for psychiatric conditions appropriate to each life stage
Integrate principles of cultural humility and patient-centered communication to improve engagement in care, accounting for gender-related factors, cultural/social disparities, and stigma
Implement integrated care strategies, including screening, referral, and collaborative management models, to address behavioral health conditions within women’s health settings to optimize patient outcomes

Financial Support

This program is supported by an independent medical education grant from CVS Health.

Target Audience

Physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician associates (PAs), nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, case managers, and social workers

Credit Information

Jointly Accredited Provider

In support of improving patient care, CME Outfitters, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians (ACCME) 1.0

CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacy Technicians (ACPE) 1.0

This application-based activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours (0.1 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy credit (JA0007185-0000-25-124-H99-T).

Pharmacists (ACPE) 1.0

This application-based activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours (0.1 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy credit (JA0007185-0000-25-124-H99-P).

Nurses (ANCC) 1.0

This activity is designated for 1.00 contact hours.

California Residents: Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 15510, for 1.00 Contact Hours.

Physician Associates (AAPA) 1.00

CME Outfitters, LLC, has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 12/23/2027. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Social Work (ACE) 1.0

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CME Outfitters, LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 continuing education credits.

ABIM MOC 1.0

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

MIPS Improvement Activity

Completion of this accredited CME activity meets the expectations of an Accredited Safety or Quality Improvement Program (IA_PSPA_28) for the Merit-based Incentive Payment Program (MIPS). Clinicians should submit their improvement activities by attestation via the CMS Quality Payment Program website.

Royal College MOC

Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Case Management (CCMC) 1.0

This program has been pre-approved by The Commission for Case Manager Certification to provide continuing education credit to CCM® board certified case managers. The course is approved for 1.00 CE contact hour(s). Activity code and Approval number will be awarded on your certificate of completion.

Disclosure Declaration

It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

Dr. Jain reports the following financial relationships:

Advisory Board: Alkermes; Corium, Inc.; Eisai Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly; Lundbeck; Merck & Co., Inc.; Neos Therapeutics, Inc.; Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.; Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; and Usona Institute

Consultant: AbbVie Inc.; Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Alfasigma USA, Inc.; Alkermes; Almatica Pharma, LLC; Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.; Biogen; Boehringer Ingleheim; Corium, Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly; Lundbeck; Merck & Co., Inc.; Neos Therapeutics, Inc.; Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; Osmotica Pharmaceuticals; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Pamlab; Pfizer Inc.; Sage Therapeutics, Inc; Shire Pharmaceuticals; Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.; Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; and Viatris Inc.

Speakers Bureau: AbbVie Inc. (Allergan); Alkermes; Almatica Pharma, LLC; Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.; Corium, Inc.; Eisai Inc.; Indivior; Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly; Lundbeck; Merck & Co., Inc.; Neos Therapeutics, Inc.; Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.; Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; Tris Pharma, Inc.; and Viatris Inc.

Dr. Clayton reports the following financial relationships:

Advisory Board: AbbVie, Inc.; Actinogen; AdhereTech; Biogen; Initiator Pharma; Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.; LivaNova PLC; Reunion Neuroscience, Inc.; S1 Biopharma, Inc.; Sirtsei Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Vella Bioscience, Inc.

Consultant: Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.; Biogen; Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*; Initiator Pharma; Janssen Research & Development, LLC; MycoMedica Life Sciences; Neumora Therapeutics, Inc.; Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; P/S/L Group Services; PBC; Seaport Therapeutics; Sirtsei Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Vella Bioscience, Inc. *Relationship has ended

Grants and Research Support: Autobahn Therapeutics*; Daré Bioscience*; Institute of Health; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Neumora Therapeutics, Inc.*; Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.*; Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.*; Reunion Neuroscience, Inc.; S1 Biopharma, Inc. *Relationship has ended

Stock Shareholder (directly purchased): Shares/Restricted Stock Units: Mediflix LLC

Stock Shareholder (ownership interest): Shares/Restricted Stock Units: S1 Biopharma, Inc.

Other financial or material support:
Royalties/Copyright: Ballantine Books/Random House; Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire; and Guilford Publications

The following individuals have no financial relationships to disclose:

Thai Nguyen, MD, MHA (Peer Reviewer)
Jessica Giddens, DNP, APRN, FPMHNP-BC, RN-BC (Peer Reviewer)
Susan Perry (Planning Committee)
Leah Zadrozny, DVM, PhD (Planning Committee)
Scott J. Hershman, MD, FACEHP, CHCP (Planning Committee)
Sandra Caballero, PharmD (Planning Committee)
Sharon Tordoff (Planning Committee)

*All identified conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure
Faculty of this CME/CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices. CME Outfitters, LLC, the faculty, planners, and reviewers do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.

Obtaining Credit

Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (75% pass rate required). This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac.

Questions about this activity?

Call us at 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).

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