October marks Menopause Awareness Month
LJMU is committed to becoming a Menopause Friendly Employer, and in October we celebrate Menopause Awareness Month.
This year's theme is ‘Lifestyle Medicine’ which focuses on raising awareness of how everyday lifestyle choices can impact menopause symptoms and overall wellbeing. The theme is broken down into four topics: nutrition, movement, sleep and stress.
Menopause, and the time leading up to this, is a normal life stage but it can bring a wide range of physical and emotional changes that impact quality of life. By linking menopause to lifestyle medicine, we can highlight that while hormonal changes are inevitable, there are many evidence-based steps you can take to manage symptoms and promote long-term health. We hope that by providing practical information, staff will be empowered to actively support their own wellbeing.
Visit the menopause section of the Staff Wellbeing Hub to access themed factsheets, as well as the ‘Small Steps Big Impact Workbook’ designed to help you set small goals and reflect on your progress over several weeks. You will also find the Symptoms Questionnaire, which is useful if you are unsure if you are entering menopause, also known as perimenopause.
Further support and guidance is available, please contact the HR team via email or join the Menopause Matters Teams Group.
Upcoming events
Bibliotherapy: Writing for wellbeing, Wednesday 15 October, 2.15pm to 3.15pm, in the Student Life Building
This event focuses on ‘Seasonal Changes – A celebration of Menopause Awareness Month’, offering a safe space for personal writing in response to creative prompts. Facilitated by Anne-Marie Smith (School of Education).
World Menopause Day event, Tuesday 21 October, 11.30am to 1pm, in Exchange Station
All staff are invited to join us for insight from and a discussion with our panel of experts:
- Kerry Johnson from Bristol Myers Squibb will be talking to us about how she led her organisation to become Menopause Employer of the Year
- Debbie Scott will discuss how maintaining a healthy diet can support you during menopause
- Finally, our LJMU Move team will share some of the fantastic opportunities we provide here at LJMU to increase your physical activity
Menopause Yoga and Resistance Training sessions, available from October, every Tuesday lunchtime, in the Sport Building
Monthly Menopause Cafes, next date Thursday 6 November
You are welcome to join us at one of our monthly Menopause Cafés, regardless of what stage of the journey you are at, be that perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. This is often a small gathering over lunchtime or towards the end of the day, giving you time to share your experiences and for others to offer their support.
If you are interested in attending any of the above, please book via the Staff Events webpage.
Menopause research
Menopausal mental health
Just this month Professor in Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention, Pooja Saini, wrote an article for The Conversation about her research into menopausal mental health. Read the piece on our news pages.
Hot flush study participants needed
Healthy female volunteers are needed for a menopausal hot flush study, led by Dr Kirsty Roberts in the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES), to measure skin function and examine skin structure. Study participants should be:
- Postmenopausal aged 45-65 years (at least 6 months since last menstrual period)
- Free from cardiovascular and metabolic conditions
- Non-smokers
- No treatments (for example HRT) for hot flushes in the last 6 months (gels may be included – if in doubt, please get in touch)
- Women who don’t get hot flushes are also included in the study
More details about the study are available in a short YouTube video or you can email Dr Kirsty Roberts directly. Participants will receive a £50 Love2Shop voucher. Research Ethics Reference Number is 22/NW/0300.
