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

Good Mental Health

What is good mental health?

In What Is Mental Health? the (British) Mental Health Foundation’s (MHF) elaborate on:

“Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem.

If you’re in good mental health, you can:

  • Make the most of your potential
  • Cope with life
  • Play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends”.3

In What Is Good Mental Health? the MHF also explain:

“Good mental health is characterised by a person’s ability to fulfil a number of key functions and activities, including:

  • The ability to learn
  • The ability to feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions
  • The ability to form and maintain good relationships with others
  • The ability to cope with and manage change and uncertainty”.4

Menopause

During menopause can our mental health change?

The MHF note:

Menopause Mental Health
“Your mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can change as circumstances change and as you move through different stages of your life”.5

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

“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”.6

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. Studies bear this out: negative beliefs held prior to menopause can be predictive of a more difficult time. For instance, the more catastrophic your thoughts about hot flashes, the more intense they will be”.7

Keeping Good Mental Health

How can we keep ourself in good mental health?

In How To Look After Your Mental Health the MHF elaborate on “10 practical ways to look after your mental health”:

  1. “Talk about your feelings…
  2. Keep active…
  3. Eat well…
  4. Drink sensibly…
  5. Keep in touch…
  6. Ask for help…
  7. Take a break…
  8. Do something you’re good at…
  9. Accept who you are…
  10. Care for others…”.8

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”.9

Physical Activity

Is there an association between physical activity and mental health?

In 5 Things You Should Know About Stress: 4. There Are Ways To Manage Stress the (United States) National Institute of Mental Health elaborate on:

  • “Get Regular Exercise. Just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost your mood and improve your health”.10

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”.11

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”.12

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”.13

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”.14

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

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. 5 Steps To Mental Wellbeing
  2. A To Z
  3. Alcohol and Mental Health
  4. Anxiety
  5. Anxiety: What You Need To Know
  6. Benefits of Talking Therapies
  7. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  8. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  9. Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Mental Health Conditions
  10. Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  12. Coping With Stress
  13. Depression In Women: 5 Things You Should Know Depression In Women
  14. Diet and Mental Health
  15. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  16. Find Help: Finding Help Is the Key To Taking Charge and Moving Forward
  17. Finding A Mental Health Professional
  18. Finding the Right Mental Health Professional for You
  19. Fitness Tips for Menopause: Why Fitness Counts
  20. Get Help Now [Australia]
  21. Getting Help [United Kingdom]
  22. Headstogether.org.uk [Heads Together, United Kingdom]
  23. Help for Mental Illnesses [United States]
  24. Home Remedies: Anxiety and Herbal Remedies
  25. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  26. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  27. How To Look After Your Mental Health
  28. How To Look After Your Mental Health Using Exercise
  29. How To Overcome Fear and Anxiety
  30. How To Sleep Better
  31. Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
  32. Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex (LGBTI), and Bodily, Gender and Sexuality Diverse People
  33. Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
  34. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  35. Living With Anxiety [+ Videos]
  36. Looking After Your Mental Health
  37. Low Mood, Sadness and Depression [+ Video: Low Mood and Depression]
  38. Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life
  39. May Is Mental Health Month 2020
  40. Mayo Mindfulness: Overcoming Negative Self-Talk
  41. Mayo Mindfulness: What Does It Really Mean? [+ Video]
  42. Menopause
  43. Menopause
  44. Menopause
  45. Menopause & Hormones: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  46. Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  47. 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?
  48. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  49. Menopause and Depression
  50. Menopause and Mental Health
  51. Menopause – What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  52. Menopause: Advice To Other Women About the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
  53. Menopause: Advice To Partners About the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
  54. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  55. Menopause: Emotions and the Menopause: Mood Swings, Anxiety and Depression [Video Interview Stories]
  56. Menopause: Family, Health and Life Events and the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
  57. Menopause: Loss of Fertility [Video Interview Stories]
  58. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  59. Menopause: See Your Doctor If
  60. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  61. Menopause: Work and the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
  62. Mental & Emotional Health – Fact Sheet
  63. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
  64. Mental Health
  65. Mental Health National Women’s Health Week
  66. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause
  67. Mental Health Myths and Facts
  68. Mental Health: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  69. Mentalhealthatwork.org.uk [Mental Health At Work, United Kingdom]: Your First Stop for Better Mental Health At Work
  70. Mhanational.org [Mental Health America]
  71. Mind.org.uk
  72. Mindfulness
  73. Mindfulness May Ease Menopausal Symptoms
  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Anxiety At A Glance
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Depression
  76. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  77. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Mental Health
  78. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: St. John’s Wort and Depression: In Depth
  79. National Institute of Mental Health [United States]
  80. One Hour Per Week of Exercise Protects Against Depression Study Shows
  81. Our Stories
  82. Recovery & Support
  83. Resilience: Build Skills To Endure Hardship
  84. Self-Care Tips To Manage Mental Health and Wellness [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic]
  85. Self-Care and Kindness
  86. Stories
  87. Supporting Women Through Menopause
  88. Symptoms of Menopause: Menopause & Mood
  89. Taking Control of Your Mental Health: Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider
  90. Talk About Mental Health
  91. Types of Talking Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  92. Understanding Menopause – Booklet
  93. Understanding Premature & Early Menopause – Booklet
  94. Video Series-2019 – Mood Changes During Perimenopause
  95. Video Series-2019 – What You Need to Know About Mood During the Menopause Transition
  96. Video Series-2020 – What You Need To Know About Cognition and Mood Changes
  97. Video Series-2021 – What Women Need To Know About Hormone Therapies
  98. What Are Mental Health Problems?
  99. Women and Mental Health
  100. 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: 22 October 2020 | Last Revised: 17 December 2018. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 24 January 2021
  2. What Is Mental Health? Last Updated: 28 May 2020. Mental Health.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 24 January 2021
  3. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health/what-mental-health Accessed: 24 January 2021
  4. What Is Good Mental Health? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health/what-good-mental-health Accessed: 24 January 2021
  5. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health/what-mental-health Accessed: 24 January 2021
  6. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 22 October 2020 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 24 January 2021
  7. Kagan, L. Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/make-your-menopause-a-positive-experience Accessed: 24 January 2021
  8. How To Look After Your Mental Health. Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health Accessed: 24 January 2021
  9. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness. Last Updated: 28 May 2020. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 24 January 2021
  10. 5 Things You Should Know About Stress: 4. There Are Ways To Manage Stress. National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml#pub4 Accessed: 24 January 2021
  11. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 22 October 2020 | Last Revised: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 24 January 2021
  12. Kagan, L. Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience: Laugh. https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/make-your-menopause-a-positive-experience Accessed: 24 January 2021
  13. 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/manage/images/pdf/ba6379e868044bec13015ac2b84f2753.pdf Accessed: 24 January 2021
  14. 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: 24 January 2021

Topic Last Updated: 01 February 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 24 January 2021
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