A recent LifeStance Health survey highlights mental health challenges associated with perimenopause and menopause, pointing to the need for lifestage-specific care.
The behavioral health company’s survey of 1,000 women in perimenopause and menopause found that a third are unaware that midlife could cause mental health changes, while 66% of respondents reported severe anxiety and irritability. Many respondents also experienced mood shifts and depression, which impacted their daily life.
Believing symptoms were unrelated to perimenopause or menopause, most respondents delayed care. About half were surprised to learn symptoms were menopause-related.
Meanwhile, those who sought treatment experienced positive results – 83% found therapy helpful, and 82% benefited from medications like antidepressants and estrogen therapy. Understanding the correlation between menopause and mental health changes, nearly half of respondents supported standardizing mental health care around different life stages.
“Women’s mental health needs change across their life stages, and perimenopause and menopause are among the biggest transitions of all,” said LifeStance Health chief medical office Dr. Stephanie Elken. “Specialized, lifestage-specific care should be standard practice, and I believe the organizations that build care around this reality, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, will define the next era of women’s health.”
