Davina McCall backs the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ call for more action on menopause and women’s mental health

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Today, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) has published its first-ever position statement on menopause and mental health. Davina McCall MBE is supporting the College to raise awareness of the issue across society and call for urgent support for women at a key transitional time of their lives.

The statement reveals that a lack of understanding means many women are neither seeking, nor receiving, vital help because they’re not aware of the relationship between menopause and mental health. Working women going through menopause also report stigma, a lack of workplace support, reduced hours and no career progression, with the menopause costing the UK economy 14 million working days per year (time spent alleviating menopause symptoms).

A YouGov poll, commissioned by RCPsych to highlight the lack of awareness of, and stigma associated with, menopause, reveals:

• Just one in five (21%) of UK adults think a new mental illness can be associated with the menopause (compared with 81% associating it with hot flushes, 74% with changes in mood and 64% with reduced sex drive). 
• Just one in four UK women (28%) surveyed feel comfortable speaking to a male boss about the menopause.
  

Lack of knowledge about menopause among healthcare professionals also means many women aren’t getting the right medical support. When surveyed in 2021, nearly half (41%) of UK’s medical schools did not include mandatory menopause education as part of their curriculum.Instead, many expected that healthcare professionals will receive this education during their early years of medical practice, which may not always be the case. Consequently, women with existing mental health conditions often face significant inequity in menopause support with clinicians frequently attributing menopause-related conditions to pre-existing mental illness. 

Davina McCall MBE, and RCPsych Honorary Fellow, said:

"Some women sail through the menopause unscathed. But some don’t, and the impact on their mental health can be devastating and have a huge impact on their lives and their relationships.

“Lack of knowledge and ingrained stigma still prevent open conversations between doctors and patients, in the workplace and among friends and family, leaving women without the crucial support they need at an incredibly vulnerable time in their lives.

“And it’s just not acceptable.  Why are women still fighting to be heard?

“Together, we must make the link between mental health and menopause known across society - among health professionals, NHS, government, members of the public and employers - to improve the policies, care and support provided for all women experiencing menopause.”

 

RCPsych is now urging that there must be better menopause and mental health policy that is designed in collaboration with women who have lived experience; the implementation of good quality workplace menopause policy which recognises the link between menopause and mental health; and the healthcare system must be able to meet the mental, psychological and physical health needs of women experiencing menopause and mental illness.

RCPsych President, Dr Lade Smith CBE said:

"Menopause can have a significant yet often overlooked impact on women’s mental health and wellbeing. 

“Women account for 51% of the population, and all will experience menopause at some point. This is a societal issue for everyone. Simply put, we must do better.

“This position statement sets out urgent action that must be taken across society to improve understanding and awareness of the relationship between menopause and mental health – in healthcare settings, in workplaces and in everyday life.

“Now is the time to listen to women’s experiences, ensure that support for women going through menopause is personalised to each individual, and women are empowered to make informed choices.”