Menopause and Mental Health
The part we don’t talk about enough - from Laura Barnes
We often focus on the importance of speaking up, supporting one another, and recognising when someone is struggling. But there is a conversation still happening too quietly—and in some workplaces, not at all. That conversation is about menopause.
Not just the physical symptoms people might expect, but the mental and emotional impact that can come with it—and how profoundly it can affect confidence, identity and wellbeing.
The confidence no one warns you about losing
I’ve always been confident. I’ve worked at a senior level, spoken my mind, and trusted my ability to hold my own—especially in high-pressure environments. What I didn’t expect was how quickly that could change. Like many, I thought menopause would be about physical symptoms. And yes, there are plenty of those. But what caught me completely off guard was the psychological impact.
The moment it really hits is subtle at first. You lose your train of thought mid-sentence. You laugh it off. But then it happens again. And again. That creeping sense of “what is happening to me?” starts to take hold. What follows isn’t just frustration—it’s a gradual erosion of confidence. And when your confidence goes, so does a sense of who you are.
Brain fog, anxiety and the quiet unravelling
“Brain fog” is the phrase often used—but it doesn’t quite capture it. It’s not just forgetfulness—it’s the fear that comes with it. The hesitation before speaking. The second-guessing. The self-doubt. And for many women, myself included, it goes deeper.
Hormonal anxiety and depression can feel overwhelming. This is where menopause and mental health collide in a way we don’t talk about enough. Because from the outside, nothing has changed. But internally, everything has. There were times I didn’t recognise myself.
Withdrawal, silence, and the risk at work
One of the hardest parts to admit is how easy it becomes to withdraw. When you feel like you’re not performing at your best, when you’re worried about saying the wrong thing or forgetting something important, the instinct is to step back: From meetings. From conversations. From opportunities. And in some cases, from careers altogether. It’s not because capability has disappeared—it’s because confidence has been rocked. This is where the link to mental health becomes critical. Without understanding or support, what starts as a physiological transition can turn into anxiety, low mood or depression, isolation, loss of professional identity -
And yet, so often, it goes unrecognised.
The power of talking about it
Standing up and sharing my experience was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—but it created something I hadn’t expected:
Understanding, empathy, and connection
Colleagues opened up. Conversations started. The subject became normalised. And that matters.
Because when we talk about menopause in the context of mental health:
People feel less alone
Managers better understand changes in behaviour or performance
Teams become more supportive
Individuals feel safer asking for help
Why this matters — especially at work
There are millions of women in the workforce going through menopause right now. Yet many are doing so quietly—managing symptoms that directly affect their mental health, confidence, and performance—without the language or support to explain it. If we’re serious about mental health, inclusion, and retaining experienced talent, this can’t remain a hidden issue.
Because the cost of silence is real:
Women stepping back or leaving roles
Loss of confidence at senior levels
Strained working relationships
Missed potential
Let’s do more
Mental Health Awareness Week is about shining a light on the things that are hard to say out loud. For me, this is one of them.
Menopause is not just a physical transition—it can be a mental and emotional one too. The more we talk about it, the more we normalise it. The more we understand it, the better we can support each other. And that’s how we create workplaces—and conversations—where no one feels they have to quietly struggle through it alone.
Laura Barnes
Justine and Kate