We’re really pleased to be offering these pages dedicated to the menopause, on our website. Menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the workforce (Professor Jo Brewis, co-author Government Report on Menopause) and according to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, almost eight out of 10 of menopausal women are in work. Therefore, supporting staff through the menopause is not only the right thing to do - it also makes economic sense. A stable and happy workforce is a productive workforce!

The menopause is not a mental health issue, but changes in hormones during menopause can affect your mental health as well as your physical health and you may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression. In addition, when you consider the range of physical symptoms you might be experiencing, it’s a lot to deal with - so it’s not surprising that some women experience anxiety, stress, loss of self-esteem, loss of confidence, low mood and feelings of sadness or depression during the menopause.

If you do find yourself struggling with mental health issues due to perimenopause or menopause, it’s important to talk to a GP and there are a variety of self-help techniques (such as exercise, relaxation) which many people find helpful. Talking also works for some of us and menopause cafes are popping up all over the country, offering a space to talk about symptoms and their impact.

We hope you find these pages helpful. We’ve got lots of self-help suggestions, as well as testimonies from our staff, talking about their experiences of perimenopause and menopause. We welcome your feedback and contributions as well, so please feel free to get in touch and share your menopause story.

Margaret Lewis

CEO
Sheffield Mind