Menopause Mental Health

“Mood changes around the time of menopause
may be due to changing hormone levels.
You may also experience mood changes due to…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Menopause Mental Health Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Emotional Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Mental Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Psychological Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Social Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Well-Being

Definition

What is mental health?

DotS the definition of mental health may vary. The (United States) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) definition is:

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices”.2

Risk

Menopause Mental HealthIs the risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety higher during perimenopause?

In Menopause and Mental Health, updated February 2023, the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) note:

“While not a problem for everyone transitioning through menopause, the risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety are higher during perimenopause, even in women without a history of major depression.

While the risk is higher for women in the age-related and natural menopausal transition, women might also have a higher risk of mood changes after menopause caused by surgery such as hysterectomy or if the ovaries have been removed. Depression also occurs at a higher rate in women with a lack of oestrogen caused by primary ovarian insufficiency”.3

Perimenopause and Depression

Is there an association between perimenopause and depression?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mental and Emotional Health the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

Menopause Mental Health“Mood changes around the time of menopause may be due to changing hormone levels.

You may also experience mood changes due to different pressures at this stage of life, such as caring for children and parents.

You might experience:

  • Irritability
  • Increased anger
  • Low mood
  • Anxiety
  • Depression”.4

In Depression and the Menopause the European Menopause and Andropause Society elaborate on:

“The perimenopause is considered to be a time of increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms and major depressive episodes.

Symptoms

  • Depressed mood
  • Loss of interest and enjoyment
  • Reduced energy
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Reduced self esteem
  • Suicidal thoughts or acts”.5

Previous Clinical History

Is there an association between a previous clinical history and menopause mental health?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health the JH also note:

“Women who have a history of depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may be more likely to develop depression during this time”.6

Menopause Symptoms

Is there an association between menopause symptoms and anxiety and depression?

In Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS explain:

“Some of the common physical, memory and thinking symptoms related to menopause (hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and sexual disturbances, weight changes and “brain fog”) can complicate and overlap with mental health symptoms”.7

Other Factors

Is there an association between other factors and menopause mood changes?

In Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Mental and Emotional Health – Anxiety and Depression the JH note:


“At this stage of life, other issues can affect your emotions. For example, if you’re juggling many responsibilities and feeling more stress than normal”.8

Stress

Is there an association between stress and menopause mental health?

In Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS explain:

“Another complicating factor is stress related to life circumstances. Feeling stress is common during middle age as personal and environmental changes take place. This can have a strong effect on mood in some women. Life circumstances that can impact mental health include:

  • Caring for children
  • Caring for elderly parents
  • Career changes
  • Relationship changes
  • Ageing
  • Body changes
  • Illness”.9

Best Mental Health Tips

What are some best mental health tips?

In Our Best Mental Health Tips – Backed By Research the (United Kingdom) Mental Health Foundation elaborate on:

  1. “Get closer to nature…
  2. Menopause Mental HealthGet more from your sleep
  3. Keep moving
  4. Eat healthy food…
  5. Be kind and help create a better world…
  6. Be curious and open-minded to new experiences…
  7. Plan things to look forward to…
  8. Learn to understand and manage your feelings…
  9. Talk to someone you trust for support…
  10. Be aware of using drugs and/or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings
  11. Try to make the most of your money and get help with problem debts…”.10

In What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness – Tips for Living Well With A Mental Health Condition, dated 24 April 2023, SAMHSA explain:

“Today, there are new tools, evidence-based treatments, and social support systems that help people feel better and pursue their goals. Some of these tips, tools and strategies include:

  • Stick to a treatment plan…
  • Keep your primary care physician updated…
  • Learn about the condition…
  • Practice good self-care…
  • Reach out to family and friends…
  • Develop coping skills…
  • Get enough sleep…”.11

Hormone Therapy

May hormone therapy improve mood?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published June 2022, the North American Menopause Society (now The Menopause Society) note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life”.12

Health Care Provider

What if my mood is making me moodier?

If your mood is making you moodier, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Menopause and Mental Health: Untangling Physical and Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS elaborate on:

“Speaking with your doctor about your menopausal symptoms, life circumstances and clinical history can help them to recommend the best treatment options and lifestyle and behavioural changes for your situation”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Mental Health?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Mental Health?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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  42. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Mental and Emotional Health
  43. Mastering Midlife Mood Changes with Marlene Freeman, MD
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Prescribing Nature for Mental, Physical Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  45. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Emotional Exhaustion: When Your Feelings Feel Overwhelming
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  88. Therapy Could Be Effective Treatment for Non-Physical Symptoms of Menopause
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Mental and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 06 May 2025 | Last Revised: 23 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 06 May 2025
  2. What Is Mental Health? Last Updated: 08 November 2024. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  3. Menopause and Mental Health. Content Updated: February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  4. Symptoms of Menopause: Mental and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 06 May 2025 | Last Revised: 23 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 06 May 2025
  5. Depression and the Menopause. 2022. European Menopause and Andropause Society https://emas-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Depression-and-the-menopause.pdf Accessed: 06 May 2025
  6. Symptoms of Menopause: Mental and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 06 May 2025 | Last Revised: 23 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 06 May 2025
  7. Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. Content Updated: February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  8. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Mental and Emotional Health – Anxiety and Depression. Last Updated: 24 April 2025 | Last Revised: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/managing-your-symptoms#managing-mood-and-emotional-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  9. Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. Content Updated: February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  10. Our Best Mental Health Tips – Backed By Research. Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  11. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness – Tips for Living Well With A Mental Health Condition. Last Updated: 24 April 2023. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
  12. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 06 May 2025
  13. Menopause and Mental Health: Untangling Physical and Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. Content Updated: February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 06 May 2025
Topic Last Updated: 05 June 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 May 2025

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