Reasons for employers to provide learning opportunities.
The menopause is generally seen as a personal matter rather than an issue for employers, but it is increasingly acknowledged that supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce is an investment that will pay off for the employer in all kinds of ways. Any employee who feels their organisation is serious about supporting them is more likely be more engaged, more productive and more loyal. 10% of women leave their jobs because of their menopausal symptoms.
What if male and female managers were aware of how the menopause impacts the workforce? In research conducted by the British Menopause Society 47% of women surveyed, who are in employment and who needed to take a day off because of the menopause, said they would not feel comfortable disclosing the real reason to their employer or colleagues.
Three Employee Benefits from learning about mental health, resilience and the menopause.
Be prepared
For younger women, simply having an idea of what to expect can be a huge benefit. Understanding the menopause before it starts can give them time to prepare. For one thing it would help with the anxiety that comes with not knowing what’s happening or why it’s happening.
Women already going through the menopause, when armed with accurate information, advice and guidance, will be much better placed to take control and manage symptoms.
Treatment Options
Knowing about options for treatments can make a huge difference and may come as a great relief for some women.
20% Sail through with hardly any symptoms
60% Have relatively minor and manageable symptoms
20% Have severe problems that can go on for years after menopause.
For around 20% of women there can be severe physical and psychological symptoms arising from the hormonal changes associated with the menopause. Night sweats and mood swings and aches and pains are some of the common ones but there are often complex issues that require medical intervention.
Take control
Menopause and Mental Health is a resilience issue. There are things you can do and choices you can make to adapt to the changes resulting from the menopause. You can take steps to address symptoms and at the same time grasp the opportunities provided at this transitional time in a women’s life. Understanding the extent to which you can take control is the essence of resilience.
What we mean by taking control is making choices about medial treatments such as HRT and other lifestyle options available. Taking time to ask questions such as:
- What steps can I take to improve my mental, emotional and physical wellbeing?
- Who do I need to speak to about the symptoms I am experiencing?
- What changes can I make to the way I think and behave that will improve things for me and my loved ones?
Learning opportunities afforded by online learning can go a long way to help women answer these questions.
Online Learning – Well informed people tend to make well informed decisions.
Embrace have developed a useful e-learning course where learners will be able to:
- List common symptoms and apply guidance on how to respond to them
- Take steps to adapt to changes in the mind and body brought on by the menopause
- Describe the links between mental health and the menopause
- Describe the basic changes brought on by perimenopause and menopause
- Describe treatments available for women going through the menopause
- Make a judgement concerning the risk factors associated with Hormone Replacement Therapy HRT
For more information contact James Clarke james.clarke@embraceresilience.com
Tel: 0161 928 9987
Here is a list of trusted sources of information:
The British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/
The NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/
NICE Guidance on the Menopause https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG23
