On The Capsule #inconversation podcast, Natalie Anderson and her guests discuss normalising the menopause.
The former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks actress has called for soaps and dramas to get behind normalising it after an in-depth discussion on her podcast about peri/menopause, with Diane Danzebrink campaigner and founder of #makemeno-pausematters and Jules Castenskiold from Bloom UK.
Natalie is passionate about raising awareness of issues that impact women. She has recently been names as the latest Smartworks ambassador, joining Meghan Markle.
Using her platform to talk to experts, raise awareness and education of the impacts of peri/menopause for the last three years, Natalie wanted to delve even deeper into the topic around World Menopause Day.
Produced by This Is Distorted, this episode of The Capsule #inconversation sees Natalie and her guests discussing it. Starting with education of younger generations in schools, in our workplaces, and most shockingly, in our health systems as it currently isn’t mandatory that GPs have to study menopause, something that effects 51% of the population. Natalie thinks that a great start would be to see the menopause conversation happening on mainstream TV.
Natalie says: “Our soaps our incredibly powerful in that they play a huge part in moving the dial on social issues and shifting awareness, they have always joined in cultural conversation and have often been the leaders in normalising taboo and stigmatised topics.
“Some of the most ground-breaking moments in our social climate have been generated by the soaps tackling a particular issue, opening up important conversations in everyday households.
“I can’t wait for the day I see peri and menopause cropping up in my scripts, not as a big storyline but as part of the ‘everyday’ moments soaps capture best.
“Their realism and relatability is what speaks to audiences, the celebration of the normal and it’s with this power that menopause can become a normal conversation and more women will start getting the support they need.”
Bloom UK has created the workplace “menofesto”, a support framework for business leaders to demystify and destigmatise peri/menopause. Businesses including Boots and Channel 4 have got behind it.
The aim is to give all people, not just women, a real understanding of what peri and menopause and to give women the support they need so they can stay in work. On the podcast they talk about the importance of education and support, there are almost 50 different symptoms and some are more serious (and scary) than the “hot flush”.
Diane Danzebrink says: “It doesn’t just directly affect women. It can affect transgender and non-binary friends, family, and colleagues, but it also affects the other half of the population too.
“Relationships break down, people end up leaving their jobs. Tragically, we know from the ONS and the Samaritans that regularly the highest rate of suicide amongst women is between the ages of 45 and 54. There’s no research (to state this is due to the menopause), but it’s far too much of a coincidence.”
Diane experienced early menopause after an operation. Her symptoms were so severe she almost took her own life. She shares her personal story that led her to campaigning and start #menopausematters, a campaign to support women in menopause through mandatory education.
The Capsule #inconversation hosted by Natalie, with guests Diane and Jules is available now on all podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple and Google.
