For a recent female empowerment session, menopause advocate, Cheryl O’Malley discussed her difficult journey and how she took ownership of her life.
Menopause Awareness
Menopause Awareness Day is held each year on the 18th October to raise awareness, break stigma, and provide support to those going through the menopause.
Despite the fact that half of the global population will experience it at some point in their lives, menopause is still widely considered a taboo subject.
Most women aged between 45 and 55 say that menopause symptoms have negatively impacted them in the workplace. Similarly, nearly a third of women have taken sick leave due to menopause symptoms, but only a quarter told their managers the real reason why.
Awareness surrounding the menopause is key. It equips us as employers to support our colleagues whose lives may be affected by this change.
Holding spaces to have conversations on the menopause helps to create an inclusive working environment and reduce the stigma surrounding a completely natural part of life. Because of this, we invited menopause advocate, Cheryl O’Malley into the firm to tell us her story.
Cheryl spoke to our ladies about the symptoms she experienced going through the menopause such as hot flushes, low mood, and weight gain. She highlighted how under-researched menopause is, thus resulting in her feeling misunderstood by her doctors.
This encouraged Cheryl to educate herself on how to manage her symptoms, the treatments available to her, and other women’s experiences. As a result, Cheryl felt empowered to take ownership of her journey through the menopause, which in turn saved her struggling marriage and mental health.
Cheryl has since appeared on ITV News advocating for more awareness on menopause symptoms and preventative treatments.
Impact on Staff
“My biggest takeaway was to get to know your body. Cheryl spoke about being offered numerous solutions during her menopause journey but pushing for what works for you is important.”
“Cheryl was a wonderful speaker. I can’t thank her enough for being vulnerable and sharing her personal experience. We’re lucky to benefit from her first-hand experience.”
“There is very little research, information or support for women around menopause, but we can help ourselves and each other. All women should have a ‘Cheryl’.”
“My biggest takeaway is to listen to my body and not just what the doctors are telling me. Menopause is relevant to me even as a 21-year-old.”
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