Army offers menopause yoga and lived experience workshops offered to boost wellbeing

Workshops designed to help boost wellbeing and reduce absence are being offered to staff by the Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has offered staff new workshops to help boost wellbeing and reduce absence as mental health had become the leading cause of absence in the military, according to The Telegraph. Part of the inclusion strategy for 2024 designed to help embed more ‘inclusive behaviours’, a number of events and workshops have been offered to help support mental health and wellbeing, including promoting mental health first aiders, stress awareness month, menopause yoga, and mental health lived experience.  

Anxiety, depression and stress were found to be the leading cause of sick leave within Strategic Command, making up nearly a third of all cases. The army isn’t the only one significantly impacted by poor mental health. Stress, depression and anxiety cause significant impact across Great Britain, with an estimated 17.1 million workdays lost in 2022-23 according to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures. Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA England) says that poor mental health accounts for more than half of all work-related illnesses, with around 51% of long-term sick leave being due to stress, depression or anxiety. 

During menopause, perimenopause and menopause symptoms affect approximately 85% of women according to research. Perimenopause can begin anytime from women’s mid-30s to mid-50s, lasting from months to years, with an average duration of three to four years. 

Although all women and people with ovaries going through menopause, according to figures released by the CIPD, despite over half (53%) of respondents experiencing a time when they were unable to go in to work due to menopause symptoms, only a quarter (24%) said that their workplace offered support or had a menopause policy in place. Over a quarter of women said that menopause symptoms have had quite a negative impact or a very negative impact on their career progression.

Finding help and support for menopause symptoms

Perimenopause and menopause symptoms can be wide and varied, and can have a significant impact on your day-to-day life, overall sense of wellbeing, your work, and even relationships. While the main treatment offered for menopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), lifestyle changes are often recommended to help ease symptoms, help you feel more connected and able to cope.

Suggested lifestyle changes to help with menopause symptoms include making sure you eat well, exercise, have a good sleep routine and look after your mental health and wellbeing. 

There are a number of different complementary therapies and options you can try to help tackle menopause symptoms.

Hypnotherapy for menopause

Hypnotherapy can help with a number of perimenopause and menopause symptoms, including helping to reduce hot flushes. One controlled study found that 74% of menopausal women experiencing hot flushes saw a reduction in both hot flushes and night sweats with the help of hypnotherapy. 

Working with an experienced hypnotherapist can also help learn new ways of managing menopause-related mood swings and anxiety. This can be through reframing negative or unhelpful thought patterns to help manage automatic negative thoughts and develop more helpful coping mechanisms. Working with a hypnotherapist can also help you to feel more comfortable and confident managing menopause symptoms. 

Yoga for menopause

Focusing on the link between mind and body, yoga combines physical movement, mindfulness, and breathwork to help build strength, stimulate natural healing, and improve flexibility and mobility. Yoga can help to reduce stress, while creating time and space to focus on self-care and wellbeing. Some yoga poses are thought to help reduce stress and anxiety, two common symptoms of the menopause. Therapy Directory explains more and shares five simple yoga poses that can help support you through menopause. 

Nutrition and menopause

As your body changes physically during menopause, this means that what your body needs can change, too. Ensuring you are getting the right nutrients and eating a balanced diet can help. 

Working with a therapist for menopause

Going through perimenopause and menopause can be seen as a transformational life stage, physically and mentally. Having someone you can talk through things with can be a huge help.

Counsellors and therapists specialising in menopause counselling can help to explore and identify the causes of anxiety, low mood, and negative self-talk; help to rebuild self-confidence; explore new opportunities and goals for your next stage in life; and help you to find new, kinder ways to speak about yourself, your body, and the changes you are going through.