Menopause Mental Health

“Women often seek counselling at menopause and might want to work through traumas they have previously experienced. This time of life seems to allow things 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) MentalHealth.gov’s definition is:

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

Menopause Emotional Health

Is there an association between menopause and emotional health?

In Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain on:

Menopause Mental Health

“Emotional health around the menopause is also more likely to be influenced by previous experiences of prior traumatic events; for example, past abuse. Women often seek counselling at menopause and might want to work through traumas they have previously experienced. This time of life seems to allow things to come to the surface”.3

Menopause Depression

Is there an association between menopause and depression?

In Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

“Depression and depressed mood around the time of expected menopause (51-52 years in Australia) is more likely to occur because of factors other than menopause, including:

  • Prior episodes of depression
  • Significant stress in your life
  • A negative attitude to things happening in your life
  • Dissatisfaction with your relationships
  • Low self-esteem
  • Poor body image
  • Poor lifestyle such as little exercise or a high intake of alcohol”.4

Surgical Menopause and/or Early Menopause

Is there an association between surgical menopause and depression?

In Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause the JH explain:

“Research suggests women who have a surgical menopause and/or an early menopause are more likely to experience a clinical depression than women who have menopause at the expected age. This seems to be influenced by the more sudden drop in hormones that comes with a surgical menopause, and it might also be related to the illness that caused the surgery in the first place, such as a cancer diagnosis”.5

Menopause Attitude

Is there an association between our menopause attitude and menopause mental health?

In Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience the author elaborates on:

“The attitude with which you embark upon this transition can have a tremendous impact on your experience of it, as well as on your choice of behaviors. Many of the changes that come with menopause and aging aren’t avoidable, but how you experience menopause and the years that follow has much to do with your attitude. Far from being the end of life, you may find menopause to be a new beginning, one that can be lived richly, fully, and in good overall health. Knowing the spectrum of what’s a normal experience may help ease your concerns and help you to prepare for what’s to come”.6

Keeping Good Mental Health

How can we keep our self in good mental health?

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

  • “Get closer to nature…
  • Learn to understand and manage your feelings…
  • Talk to someone you trust for support…
  • Be aware of using drugs and/or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings…
  • Try to make the most of your money and get help with debt problems…
  • Get more from your sleep…
  • Be kind and help create a better world…
  • Keep moving…
  • Eat healthy food…
  • Be curious and open minded to new experiences
  • Plan things to look forward to…”.7

In What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness the Mentalhealth.gov explain:

“Ways to maintain positive mental health include:

  • Getting professional help if you need it
  • Connecting with others
  • Staying positive
  • Getting physically active
  • Helping others
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Developing coping skills”.8

Sleep

Is there an association between sleep and menopause mental health?

According to the JH:

“Many women kept awake at night because of night sweats find they are exhausted, can’t think clearly and feel more negative because they have had poor quality sleep”.9

LaughterMenopause Mental Health

Is there an association between laughter and menopause mental health?

In Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience the author explains:

“Laughter brings us closer to people, moves us into more positive mind-sets, can stimulate our immune system, enhance our learning and memory, and help us cope better with the stressors in our lives. Laughter is a great menopause help”.10

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

May menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) be beneficial in improving mood?

One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT – endorsed by seven menopause-related organizations – published online 20 June 2016 is:

  • “MHT may be beneficial in improving mood in early postmenopausal women with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. MHT may also be beneficial for perimenopausal women with major depression but antidepressant therapy remains first-line treatment in this setting”.11

Health Care Provider

What if I am in no mood for laughter?

If you are in no mood for laughter, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page one in Menopause and Depression: Recognizing Depressive Symptoms and Depression the NAMS explain:

“When you are transitioning into menopause, you should notify your healthcare practitioner whether you have suffered from depression in the past or whether you were particularly sensitive to hormone changes and have experienced premenstrual syndrome or postpartum depression. Be alert and notice whether these mood changes are mild and do not greatly affect your quality of life or whether they are severe and debilitating and interfere with your daily activities”.12

In Mental Health & Emotions: Managing Psychological Symptoms – Other Therapies the JH elaborate on:

“First, see your doctor or health professional to discuss what therapy or therapies might be most suitable for you. Severe depression and anxiety can respond to treatment with medication such as antidepressants in combination with ‘talk’ therapy (counselling or psycho-therapy) from a registered psychologist or psychiatrist”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics 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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  1. 31 Tips To Boost Your Mental Health
  2. 5 Steps To Mental Wellbeing
  3. 5 Ways To Cope With Menopausal Mood Swings
  4. About Mental Health Problems
  5. Alcohol and Mental Health
  6. Anxiety
  7. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  8. Caring for Your Mental Health
  9. Chill Out With the NIH [+ Video]
  10. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Mental Health Conditions
  12. Consumer Health: What Is Mental Health?
  13. Coping With Stress
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  15. Depression In Women: 5 Things You Should Know
  16. Diet and Mental Health
  17. Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  18. EMAS Menopause Essentials
  19. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  20. Facebook Live Event: The Menopause Transition and Depression
  21. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  22. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  23. Find Help: Finding Help Is the Key To Taking Charge and Moving Forward
  24. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  25. Finding A Mental Health Professional
  26. Finding the Right Mental Health Professional for You
  27. Fitness Tips for Menopause: Why Fitness Counts
  28. Getting Help [United Kingdom]
  29. Get Help With Your Mental Wellbeing [Scotland]
  30. Getting Help for Mental Health
  31. Headstogether.org.uk [Heads Together, United Kingdom]
  32. How To Improve Mental Health
  33. How To Look After Your Mental Health
  34. How To Look After Your Mental Health Using Exercise
  35. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  36. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Only Happens In Your 50s]
  37. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  39. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  40. Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex (LGBTI), and Bodily, Gender and Sexuality Diverse People
  41. Living With Anxiety [+ Videos]
  42. Looking After Your Mental Health
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Mental Health Needs Rise As Pandemic Fluctuates [+ Video]
  44. Mayo Mindfulness: Overcoming Negative Self-Talk
  45. Menopausal Symptoms: Mood Disorders and the Menopausal Transition
  46. Menopause
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause
  50. Menopause
  51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  52. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Relaxation Techniques
  53. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  54. Menopause & Sleep With Dr Sonia Davison
  55. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. My family tells me that I’ve become moody, and I admit that I sometimes feel blue or short-tempered. Menopause?
  56. Menopause Mindfulness: A Personal Toolkit for Menopause Preparedness
  57. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  58. Menopause and Depression
  59. Menopause and Mental Health
  60. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  61. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
  62. Mental Health
  63. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause
  64. Mental Health: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  65. Menopause Mental HealthMentalhealthatwork.org.uk [Mental Health At Work, United Kingdom]
  66. Mhanational.org [Mental Health America]
  67. Mindfulness
  68. Mood and the Menopause
  69. My Mental Health: Do I Need Help?
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Anxiety At A Glance
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Depression
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Mental Health
  74. National Institute of Mental Health [United States]
  75. Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  76. Our Best Mental Health Tips – Backed By Research
  77. Perimenopause
  78. Perimenopause
  79. Self-Care Tips To Manage Mental Health and Wellness [+ Video]
  80. Sleep and Your Health
  81. Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
  82. Symptoms of Menopause: Menopause & Mood
  83. Taking Care of Your Mental Health
  84. Taking Control of Your Mental Health: Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider
  85. The Many Faces of Anxiety
  86. Transformations The Mental Health Issues That Can Accompany Menopause Often Go Unaddressed
  87. Types of Talking Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  88. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  89. Video Series-2019: Mood Changes during Perimenopause
  90. Video Series-2019: What You Need to Know About Mood During the Menopause Transition
  91. Video Series-2020: What You Need to Know About Cognition and Mood Changes
  92. Video Series-2021: How Menopause Symptoms Can Affect Your Quality of Life
  93. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  94. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  95. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  96. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: Menopause and Diabetes
  97. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: The Menopause Blues
  98. Webinar: Perimenopause
  99. Webinars: Previous – Dealing With A Big Issue: Weight Gain At Midlife
  100. Women and Mental Health
  101. Women’s Wellness: Mindfulness May Ease Menopausal Symptoms

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 28 June 2021 | Last Revised: 17 December 2018. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 22 July 2022
  2. What Is Mental Health? Last Updated: 28 February 2022. Mental Health.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 22 July 2022
  3. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 28 June 2021 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 22 July 2022
  4. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 28 June 2021 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 22 July 2022
  5. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 28 June 2021 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 22 July 2022
  6. Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/make-your-menopause-a-positive-experience Accessed: 22 July 2022
  7. How To Look After Your Mental Health. Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health Accessed: 22 July 2022
  8. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness. Last Updated: 28 February 2022. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 22 July 2022
  9. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 28 June 2021 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 22 July 2022
  10. Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience: Laugh. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/make-your-menopause-a-positive-experience Accessed: 22 July 2022
  11. De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:314 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 22 July 2022
  12. Depression and Menopause: Recognizing Depressive Symptoms and Depression. 2018:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/menonote-menopause-and-depression.pdf Accessed: 22 July 2022
  13. Mental Health & Emotions: Managing Psychological Symptoms – Other Therapies. Last Updated: 28 June 2021 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 22 July 2022

Topic Last Updated: 22 July 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 July 2022
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