How Menopause Can Affect Mental Health in the Workplace

Anxiety, brain fog, depression, irritability, sleep deprivation. These are just some of the many symptoms people can suffer from when going through menopause; however, there’s all too often a stigma around talking about menopause, specifically in the workplace. This stigma can mean people are embarrassed to talk about what they’re going through and are not willing to ask for the help or support they might require, which can quickly lead to mental health problems as they navigate menopause alone and without appropriate support.

One in ten women has left work because of symptoms of menopause. Furthermore, 77% of those experiencing one or more symptoms they describe as “very difficult”, with 69% having difficulties with anxiety or depression due to the menopause, 84% experiencing trouble sleeping, and 73% having brain fog. Additionally, menopause has caused 14% of women to reduce their working hours, and around 8% said they would not apply for a promotion because of their symptoms, with 61% saying they had lost motivation at work due to their symptoms. [source].

These statistics show the far-ranging effect menopause can have on women, and with menopausal women the fastest-growing demographic of workers in the UK, this is something that needs to be tackled by employers. However, despite it being a natural life process, menopause and how menopause can affect employees are rarely discussed.

The Menopause and the Workplace report by the Fawcett Society and Channel 4 found that 41% of women said they had seen menopause and its symptoms treated as a joke by people at work. In addition, 52% said they had lost confidence because of menopause, and 61% said they had lost motivation at work due to their symptoms.

If someone is going through debilitating symptoms like anxiety, depression, or brain fog, this will negatively impact their ability to work, and without the right help and support, they may soon start to feel worse. This can quickly affect their mental health if they feel they are no longer useful or adding value to their workplace.

Opening the discussion around menopause and offering support will help those suffering feel more comfortable and better able to navigate working whilst going through menopause. Individuals will feel more able to discuss what adjustments they might need (such as flexible working, more time to do certain tasks, longer breaks, the ability to work from home at certain times, change of uniform etc.) and how their employer can help them navigate what can be a tough time. Managers also need support with menopause awareness and education to enable them to appropriately support their staff.

A work environment that feels safe and without stigma and where people know that support is available for them will encourage more going through menopause to stay at work. Organisations will benefit by retaining their valuable talent and experience.

If you’d like to make your workplace more menopause confident, we are here to help. Talking Menopause is a leading provider of menopause workshops, learning, and individually tailored programmes assisting organisations to transform their culture and create menopause-confident working environments.

Contact us to find out more now by calling 0844 995 0090 or emailing hello@talkingmenopause.co.uk.