The impact of social determinants on women's mental health is becoming clearer worldwide. Poverty, violence and communal insecurity are among the main challenges to women's mental health and the health of their families. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders experienced by women. It typically has an early onset in life and is more frequently found in women made vulnerable by trauma.Improving mental health for women and girls requires early intervention for depression and other mental disorders; with gender sensitive clinical care and support for recovery in primary health care, and mother, child and reproductive health settings. Early intervention in primary health care and collaboration with patients and family carers encourage integration of mental health with the health care system, in turn protective of human rights.In addition, gender equity and observance of human rights need to be embedded in policy and practice in health and non-health sectors to ensure that women's mental health is promoted and mental illnesses adequately prevented and treated. Effective promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorders is possible in countries of all income levels.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.