Midlife women and mental health is a subject that has received little coverage to date. It was wonderful to see the collaboration between St Patricks mental health services and the National Women’s Council last week.
The women’s mental health network organised a hugely subscribed seminar on line discussing menopause, mental health and midlife.
Dr Caoimhe Hartley, Breeda Bermingham, Dr Cliona Loughnane, and Katherine o Keefe presented on the day. Recording of seminar here https://youtu.be/8t9yxZWudvA
Mental Health rates for girls and women in Ireland are highest in the 45 to 60 age group with suicide rates peaking at 51 years. This time in women’s lives needs a lot more spotlighting and research.
Dr Loughnane’s research looks at -what is the collective experience of women in midlife that is impacting on our mental health. Being a woman in a gender unequal world can impact our mental health. Challenging social and cultural norms and conditioning will directly impact the present statistics.