World Mental Health Day: Why Sexual Health Must Be Part of the Global Well-Being Conversation

Every year on October 10th, the World Health Organization (WHO) partners with international organizations to bring awareness and support to people living with mental health issues on World Mental Health Day. According to the WHO, 1 in 8 people live with a mental health condition. Together with the World Association of Sexual Health (WAS), they recognize that sexual health AND sexual pleasure are a critical component of overall mental health throughout the lifespan.

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While mental health disorders are being more understood by the general public because of their commonality, most people aren’t as informed about the frequency of sexual health disorders. In 2024, researcher Ramírez-Santos and his colleagues published a meta-analysis (a combination of many studies) in the Sex Med Review analyzing over 4,000 studies. They found that sexual dysfunction was prevalent in 31% of men and 41% of women, and these disorders were often linked to distress, depression, and anxiety.  Unfortunately, many of these sexual disorders, like Erectile Dysfunction, low desire, Orgasmic Disorder (for women and men), and Genito Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD), were found to go underdiagnosed. This was due to many medical professionals lacking proper sexual health training in their residencies. Because their screenings were inconsistent, the researchers estimated that the true percentages are likely to be higher. When sexual disorders go untreated, it can lead to even poorer mental health. In their discussion, the researchers stressed that better screening and more awareness are needed to prevent the spike in mental health disorders and sexual dysfunction.

Another 2024 review of 63 studies by Vasconcelos et al. in the Bulletin of World Health Organization, also found that in almost all the studies, there were significant connections between positive sexual health and lower levels of Depression and/or Anxiety, as well as increased life satisfaction. These associations included men, women, older adults, pregnant women, and those in both same-sex and mixed-sex relationships. 

As World Mental Health Day is honored on October 10th, it offers an important opportunity for therapists, medical professionals, and patients to explore how sexual health and mental health are interconnected. By making sure discussions about sexual health are not overlooked on this day, providers and their patients can gain a better understanding of what treatment is needed. This could include referrals to specialists such as: 

  • Certified Sex Therapists
  • Doctors specializing in sexual health
  • Pelvic floor physical therapists and/or  
  • Support groups

The Dual Link Between Sexual and Mental Health

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As witnessed in sexual therapy clinical practice and in the professional literature, the relationship between sexual health and mental health travels in both directions. On one end, people who struggle with things like Anxiety and Depression tend to report having lower desire levels and more Anxiety when a partner initiates a sexual encounter. And on the flip side, people who struggle with sexual disorders report higher levels of emotional distress and sadness.

Daniele Mollaioli, PHD, and his fellow researchers published a study in  the The Journal of Sexual Medicine illustrating the connections between mood and anxiety disorders and the subjects’ reports around sexual intimacy activity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period.  Published in 2021, the study showed that people who maintained a healthy sex life during the lockdown were better protected from the risks of quarantine-related anxiety and depression in all genders. 

While the pandemic was an extraordinarily unique and unprecedented time, more recent studies have also drawn the connection between mood disorders and sexual functioning. In a 2025 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, Chen et al. found that adults who had less frequent sexual activity issues with their sex life experienced significantly more depressive symptoms. Additionally, a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine by authors Dominguez-Bali and Hernandez, on menopausal women, highlighted the mental and physical benefits of experiencing orgasm, even through self-pleasure. This shows that there is no pressure to engage in frequent partnered sex to maintain sexual and mental well-being.

We can now see that in study after study, people’s mental health, especially symptoms of Depression and Anxiety, are strongly tied to their sexual health and satisfaction.  In 2023, Pigeon et al., in The Journal of Psychosomatic Research, insisted that when people have healthy sex lives, they have better sleep, less stress, and fewer mental health issues  

The Impact of Sexual Stigma on Mental Health

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In the modern digital age, Millennials and GenZers often brag on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram about how frequently they are having sex. This trend, unfortunately, contributes to many sex therapy clients’ sense of failure about their own sex lives or lack thereof. However, in the sex therapy clinical setting, clients report that their most satisfying sex happens when they are relaxed, safe enough to express their authentic erotic selves, and are confident that each partner is fully consenting to and enjoying the experience. What most people truly need help with is developing their sexual agency or what this author refers to as Sex Esteem®, to practice an authentic, regulated, and differentiated way of communicating and listening to each partner’s needs.  

Understanding that there is no one universal definition of a “good” sex life alleviates the pressure people feel to live up to a standard being depicted in sexually explicit media like porn, movies or social media influencers’ posts . For some people, it will be having sex less often, while for others, it can be exploring a new kink experience. However, there is one thing that stays consistent in all the research and clinical observations: when couples create a safe space and have clear communication in the bedroom, they are more likely to have a more authentic and pleasurable sex life, which can improve their overall mental health.

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Identifying as a sexual minority can also be challenging for many people. The stigmas and threats of physical violence on the LGBTQIA+ community adds to their sexual and mental health concerns. When researching for the Clinical Psychological Science journal, Pachankis et al. found that people who experience sexual shame are more prone to Depression. There is a great need for more therapists and medical providers to be properly educated and trained in order to provide inclusive care to clients from sexual minority groups.

 

Steps to Care for Your Sexual & Mental Health 

The WHO’s goal for World Mental Health Day on October 10th is to raise awareness and improve access to sexual and mental health education and services for those in need.

Here’s how you can care for your own and/or your partner’s mental AND sexual health:

  • Visit psychotherapy or healthcare practices that offer specialties in sex therapy, sexual health education, and sexuality informed medical treatments.  
  • Ensure your medical provider and/or therapist initiates discussions on sexual well-being AND mental health status. 
  • Keep yourself informed about the latest in sexual and mental health research, updated treatment guidelines, and share this education with others who might also need to learn.

When mental health and sexual care are seen as integral components of overall healthcare,  rather than distinct silos of concerns, people are more likely to feel physically, emotionally, sexually, and psychologically healthy.