Time to Talk Day: Personalised care for mental health during menopause

What is Time to Talk Day?

Time to Talk Day is an annual awareness event that aims to bring friends, family, communities, and workplaces together to talk about mental health. This year’s event takes place on the 6th of February and is run by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Time to Talk Day was launched in 2014 by Time to Change, a campaign to end mental health stigma and discrimination.

Each year, individuals, businesses, and communities are encouraged to hold events - big or small - to simply take the time out to chat with a loved one.

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life characterised by the cessation of menstrual cycles and the eventual inability to get pregnant. This occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs, leading to a reduction in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. All women and people who have periods will eventually go through menopause; however, early menopause can also be triggered by surgery to remove the ovaries, some cancer treatments, and genetics.

Over 30 physical and mental symptoms have been linked to peri-menopause and menopause and these greatly impact day-to-day life. In fact, according to a 2022 survey by Fawcett Society, 77% of women experience one or more menopausal symptoms they describe as ‘very difficult’, and this often includes symptoms such as hot flashes/flushes, sleep disturbances, brain fog, aches and pains, anxiety and depression.

Menopause and mental health

Mental health during menopause is often overlooked in favour of more physical symptoms; however, as mentioned above, peri-menopause and menopause are often associated with several mental health symptoms.

The most common mental health symptoms of menopause are anxiety and depression, with an estimated 69% of people reporting difficulties with these symptoms. For a lot of women, this may be the first time they have experienced such symptoms and this can exacerbate discomfort and worry around menopause too. 

Individuals going through menopause may also experience:

• Anger and irritability
• Loss of self-esteem
• Poor concentration and forgetfulness

In addition, studies indicate that, compared to premenopausal women, perimenopausal women have a greater risk for each symptom of anxiety. 

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - the most common menopause treatment - may help to ease some of these symptoms, many women still struggle to achieve effective relief when it comes to their mental health concerns, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is also recommended frequently.

With a lack of needs being met, many are left wondering: What is the best product for menopause relief?

But really, there's no definitive answer. Everyone is different, and a personalised approach is always necessary when it comes to treating both mental health, and menopause. But, there are more treatment options out there than most know people know. 

Medical cannabis and menopause: a personalised approach

Medical cannabis is becoming consistently more accessible around the world, including here in the UK. Since the legalisation of cannabis-based medicines in the UK in 2018, patients with a wide range of conditions and symptoms have discovered the benefits of this versatile treatment. However, many people are unaware of the potential benefits of medical cannabis for menopause relief.

In fact, medical cannabis can be prescribed for a number of common menopause symptoms when other options have failed to deliver adequate relief. This includes treatment for menopause mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression. 

Menopause treatment at Releaf medical cannabis clinic

At Releaf, our specialist clinicians and clinic staff can carefully consider your eligibility for medical cannabis treatment. Our qualified healthcare professionals ensure you receive a personalised treatment plan specifically designed to best manage your symptoms. Moreover, your progress will be continuously monitored to ensure any necessary changes can be made to your treatment to maximise the benefits. 

Patients at Releaf medical cannabis clinic can even request a consultation with a specific doctor. For example, you may wish to see one of our consultant psychiatrists such as Dr Vijay Delaffon. Alternatively, our specialist Dr Maria Knobel is well-versed in the symptoms and challenges of menopause. No matter what, you can feel confident you are in good hands when considering medical cannabis treatment for menopause symptoms at Releaf. 

Final thoughts

There are approximately 13 million peri- or menopausal women in the UK alone. Yet, this natural process is often stigmatised. This is often due to a lack of education and conversation around the menopause. So, this Time to Talk Day, why not start the conversation with a loved one or a medical professional? Our specialist doctors are always on hand to discuss your options for medical cannabis treatment and guide you through your personalised treatment plan.