S1 Ep04 - Women, Menopause and Mental Health

This episode of Let's Talk Hope delves into the critical intersection of menopause, mental health, and suicide prevention. Hosted by Gemma Cutting, it features discussions with MP Carolyn Harris and Dr. Louise Newson, who share personal experiences and insights on the stigma surrounding menopause, the importance of advocacy, and the urgent need for awareness and research in this area. The conversation highlights the alarming statistics regarding suicide rates among menopausal women and emphasizes the necessity for better training and understanding within the medical community.TakeawaysThe stigma around menopause affects women's mental health.Women aged 45 to 55 are at the highest risk of suicide.Advocacy is crucial for raising awareness about menopause.Personal experiences can drive passion for change.There is a lack of understanding about menopause in the medical field.Women need to be their own advocates for health.Research is essential to understand the link between menopause and mental health.Community support plays a vital role in women's health.Training for healthcare professionals on menopause is inadequate.Conversations about menopause are becoming more prevalent.Sound Bites"Women aged 45 to 55 are at highest risk of suicide""We need to get the narrative right""There is an answer to this""The world is ending and I'd be in there""This is a time of your life that you can get through""We are our best advocates now""We need to have more evidence, more research""It's not just a problem for women, it's for everyone"Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Its Purpose01:30 Exploring Menopause and Mental Health03:02 Personal Stories and Experiences with Menopause08:59 The Link Between Menopause and Suicide14:52 Advocacy and Awareness in Menopause Conversations20:02 Research and Data on Menopause and Mental Health24:54 Challenges in Medical Training and Awareness29:51 The Importance of Self-Advocacy for Women35:02 Future Directions in Menopause and Suicide Prevention39:59 Conclusion and Call to ActionMore Information / Help & SupportFor more information about the individuals and organisations featured in this episode, or if you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, the following organisations can provide help and support:Papyrus provides confidential support and advice to young people (under 25 years of age)struggling with thoughts of suicide: ⁠https://www.papyrus-uk.org/⁠Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needssomeone: ⁠https://www.samaritans.org/⁠Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service foranyone who is struggling to cope: ⁠https://giveusashout.org/⁠Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.: ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool/⁠James’ Place is a charity offering free, life-saving treatment to suicidal men at three centresin Liverpool, London and Newcastle: ⁠https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/⁠Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database: ⁠https://hubofhope.co.uk/⁠Alfie’s Squad is a service for children bereaved by suicide: ⁠https://alfiessquad.org/⁠Amparo provides emotional and practical support for anyone affected by suicide: ⁠https://amparo.org.uk/⁠ CreditsSeries conceived by Prof Pooja Saini at Liverpool John Moores UniversityProduced and distributed by Innobella MediaHosted by Gemma Cutting Sound Recording & Post-Production: Paul Freeman-Powell Music Composed & Produced by Tom Anderson