World Menopause Month resource collection

October marks World Menopause Month, which aims to raise awareness of the menopause and options to improve health and wellbeing for women in mid-life and beyond.

Culminating with World Menopause Day on 18 October, the theme for 2022 is cognition and mental health. To mark this occasion, the balance team have compiled a resource collection on the theme of mental health to provide support and guidance.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing in the perimenopause and menopause booklet

If you are experiencing perimenopause or menopause and have started to think, feel or do things that are different to before, this booklet is for you. Psychological and emotional changes are extremely common when your hormones start to change and decline, and this booklet will show you what to look out for, help you understand why these changes happen, and give you the options and information to decide how to get help.

Antidepressants and menopause factsheet

Is low mood during the perimenopause and menopause the same as depression? Can taking antidepressants help this type of low mood and/or treat other menopausal symptoms as well?

This factsheet explains the relationship between your hormones and your mood, and outlines what role antidepressants should and should not have in treating mood changes in perimenopausal and menopausal women.

What is reproductive depression factsheet

Reproductive depression is a hormonally based depression that can come and go over the course of your reproductive life, including the perimenopause. Find out more in this factsheet.

ADHD and the perimenopause and menopause booklet

An estimated 1.5 million people in the UK are living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Many of these people do not have a formal diagnosis. ADHD can cause difficulties that affect day to day functioning and these issues can often get worse when hormones change during the perimenopause. This booklet explains why that happens and outlines the interventions and treatments that can really make a positive difference.

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast: Finding hope with hormones after 20 years of struggling with my mental health

In this episode, Dr Louise talks to special guest Vanessa about mental health and hormones. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide

Further information

International Menopause Society: World Menopause Day

Help is available if you are struggling. Please contact the Samaritans by phone on 116 123, download the Samaritans Self-Help app or email jo@samaritans.org