Three in four women are unaware that menopause can trigger new mental health challenges, according to a new poll commissioned by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). The finding underscores a critical gap in understanding surrounding the often-overlooked connection between hormonal changes and mental wellbeing, and prompted the RCPsych to issue its first-ever position statement on menopause and mental health on March 1, 2026.
The YouGov poll revealed a stark contrast in public perception: while 93% of women associate menopause with hot flushes and 76% with reduced sex drive, only 28% recognize a link to new mental illnesses. This lack of awareness contributes to women not seeking, or receiving, the vital support they need during a significant life transition. The issue extends beyond individual wellbeing, with the menopause costing the UK economy an estimated 14 million working days annually due to symptoms.
The RCPsych’s position statement highlights that perimenopausal women are more than twice as likely to develop bipolar disorder and 30% more likely to experience clinical depression. Hormonal shifts can also contribute to the relapse or onset of eating disorders, and are associated with higher suicide rates among women of menopausal age. These findings emphasize the urgent need for improved awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions related to menopause.
A Systemic Lack of Understanding
Dr. Lade Smith, president of the RCPsych, emphasized the widespread nature of the issue. “Menopause can have a significant yet often overlooked impact on women’s mental health and wellbeing,” she stated. “Women account for 51% of the population and all will experience menopause at some point. This is a societal issue for everyone. Simply put, we must do better.”
The report also points to systemic issues within healthcare. Nearly half (41%) of UK medical schools did not include mandatory menopause education as part of their curriculum as of 2021, meaning many healthcare professionals may lack the necessary knowledge to properly support patients. This deficiency often leads to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment, leaving women to suffer in silence.
The stigma surrounding menopause further exacerbates the problem. Many women report feeling uncomfortable discussing their symptoms with employers, particularly male bosses, with only 28% feeling comfortable doing so, according to the RCPsych poll. This reluctance can lead to reduced work hours, limited career progression, and a general lack of support in the workplace.
Personal Stories Highlight the Diagnostic Gap
Sonja Rincón, 43, shared her experience of being misdiagnosed with depression for seven years before discovering her symptoms were linked to perimenopause. “I was 35 when I first went to my doctor with symptoms I couldn’t explain, like crushing fatigue and low mood,” she recounted. “The doctor’s answer was antidepressants, then a higher dosage, then different antidepressants.”
Rincón described feeling dismissed and unheard, losing confidence in her body and judgment as her condition worsened. It wasn’t until she began researching menopause herself and advocating for her own care that she received a formal diagnosis and found relief through hormone replacement therapy (HRT). “People like me shouldn’t continue to be medically dismissed due to the fact that they’re ‘too young’ for perimenopause,” she said. Rincón now runs the Menotracker app to assist other women navigate their own experiences.
Disparities in Awareness and Access to Care
The issue of awareness and access to care is not uniform across all demographics. A study from University College London found that 58% of Black women in the UK feel completely uninformed about menopause, and many experience it as “psychologically damaging.” More than half (53%) reported anxiety, yet a significant number were misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression rather than menopause. Only 23% of this group accessed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to manage their symptoms.
This disparity highlights the need for culturally sensitive healthcare and targeted outreach programs to ensure all women receive the information and support they need. The RCPsych report calls for urgent action to improve care, including mandatory menopause and mental health training for all medical and psychiatric professionals, and the implementation of menopause policies in workplaces that address the relationship between menopause and mental health.
Calls for Change and Ongoing Efforts
Davina McCall, TV presenter and author of Menopausing, voiced her support for the RCPsych’s position statement. “Lack of knowledge and ingrained stigma still prevent open conversations between doctors and patients, in the workplace and among friends and family, leaving women without the crucial support they need at an incredibly vulnerable time in their lives. And it’s just not acceptable. Why are women still fighting to be heard?”
Janet Lindsay, chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, echoed this sentiment, stating, “For too long, women’s symptoms have been dismissed or misunderstood. We fully support the call for better awareness, joined‑up care, better workplace support and policies, and more research that will help ensure women are listened to and supported through menopause.”
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the issue, stating that This proves “unacceptable” for women to face barriers to care. The department announced plans to include a menopause question in NHS health checks, renew the women’s health strategy, and invest an additional £688 million in mental health services, alongside recruiting 8,500 more mental health workers.
The RCPsych’s position statement and the growing public conversation surrounding menopause represent a crucial step towards addressing this long-neglected area of women’s health. The next step will be to translate these calls for action into concrete changes in healthcare training, workplace policies, and public awareness campaigns.
Do you have a story about your experience with menopause and mental health? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
