World Menopause Day is held each year on 18 October to raise awareness, break the stigma and highlight the support available for improving health and wellbeing for those experiencing menopause.
Menopause is not just a gender or age issue, it is an organisational issue which can impact colleagues both directly or indirectly. Awareness around this topic is key to reducing the stigma attached to menopause and encouraging people to talk more openly about it.
The Long Term Workforce Plan has emphasised the importance of retaining our valued NHS workforce. Employers should be looking at their wellbeing offer and critically evaluating the experience of staff through all stages of their careers. The NHS People Promise explores the seven elements of creating a positive staff experience. A positive staff experience and a rounded support offer are vital to encouraging staff to remain in the workplace.
Did you know?
Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that:
- women aged 50 and over are the fastest growing group in the workforce; the average age for menopause transition is 51
- three out of five working women aged between 45 and 55 who are experiencing menopause symptoms say it has a negative impact on them at work
- more than half of this group said they experienced more stress
- nearly a third of women have taken sick leave due to their symptoms, but only a quarter told managers the real reason why.
World Menopause Day 2023
The theme for World Menopause Day 2023 is cardiovascular disease. The link between reproductive factors and cardiovascular disease is another important aspect of menopause that women need to be aware of.
Researchers have recently discovered that a woman’s reproductive experiences (including menstruation, pregnancy, breast cancer treatments and menopause) can affect the chances of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Awareness of this can help determine an individual’s risk.
The International Menopause Society has a range of resources available to support this year’s theme, these resources are also available in different languages.
World Hypertension Day might sound like an intensely stressful day, which causes high blood pressure, but it is in fact an educational event, designed to prevent instances of hypertension.