Majority of women unaware menopause can trigger new mental illness

A survey has found that four in five adults do not know that menopause could trigger a new mental illness.

A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to highlight the lack of awareness and stigma around menopause has found that only 21 per cent of adult women in the UK know that a new mental illness may be linked to menopause.

This means that 81 percent of people associate menopause with hot flashes, 74 percent with mood changes and 64 percent with decreased sexual desire.

Just over one in four women (28 percent) said they felt comfortable talking about menopause with a male boss.

This lack of information means many women do not seek or receive the vital help they need.

President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr. Lade Smith said: “Menopause can have a significant but often overlooked impact on women’s mental health and wellbeing. Women make up 51 per cent of the population and will all experience menopause at some point. It’s a societal issue for everyone. Simply put, we must do better.”

According to the NHS, common mental health symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause include low mood, anxiety, mood swings, low self-esteem and problems with memory and concentration.

Physical symptoms include hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, muscle and joint pain, and weight gain. But for some women, menopause significantly increases the likelihood of developing serious mental illness.

Previous research by University College London (UCL) found that pre-menopausal women have a 40 per cent higher risk of developing depression than women who do not experience menopausal symptoms.

Counseling psychologist and co-founder Dr. “Hormonal fluctuations, especially changes in estrogen, can affect mood regulation and increase the likelihood of anxiety or low mood,” said Elena Touroni. Chelsea Psychology Clinicsaid Independent.

“Disruption of sleep due to night sweats or other physical symptoms can leave people feeling tired and less able to cope with daily stress. In my experience, one of the biggest factors is a lack of awareness. Many women are unaware that changes in mood or anxiety can be linked to menopause, and this can delay seeking support or help.”

Dr Deborah Lee, GP and menopause specialistHe added: “Estrogen modulates levels of serotonin and GABA, both of which are essential for mood. Testosterone levels also drop, associated with lack of energy, confusion and low libido. Low progesterone also causes low mood, insomnia and depression.”

“Women, as well as their doctors and employers, need to be made aware of the increased risk of mental illness during perimenopause. Undoubtedly, there are many unrecognized mental illnesses in women during this period of their lives.”

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, in a 2021 survey almost half (41 per cent) of medical schools in the UK did not include compulsory menopause education as part of their curriculum.

Some schools explained that they expect healthcare professionals to receive this training within the first few years of their medical career, but this is not always the case. As a result, women with existing mental health conditions often face significant inequalities in menopause support; Clinicians often attribute menopause-related conditions to pre-existing mental illness.

TV presenter and author MenopauseDavina McCall said: “Some women get through menopause unscathed. But some do not, and the impact on their mental health can be devastating and have a huge impact on their lives and relationships.

“Lack of information and ingrained stigma still hinder 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.”

A report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling on healthcare and governments in the UK to improve care, compulsory teaching of menopause and mental health in all medical and psychiatric training, and menopause policies in all workplaces.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has been approached for comment.