Former QNIS Trustee Hilda Campbell, CEO of COPE Scotland has provided us with this blog, looking at how community nurses can offer support at a challenging time
The menopause and peri menopause can be a challenging time in a person’s life and nurses often have an opportunity to help raise awareness and provide some education which maybe help people at this time.
People’s experience of menopause/perimenopause can vary and sometimes cause real concern and distress as it’s not always immediately obvious this is what is happening, which is why its important there is more done to raise awareness.
One simple but effective idea is to share an awareness raising poster where people can see it. The #knowyourmenopause Poster campaign is one of these being promoted by @Pausitivity2 who are inviting people to share these posters widely, promoting where they have shared them with a selfie of themselves with the poster. They are also promoting a survey to understand more people’s experience of menopause.
To download a copy of the poster click here.
So many have already became involved in this, including in some practices having a 30min menopause clinic once a week. It may also be of interest to visit learn more about Menopause Cafés and explore if there is interest in having one in your area
The menopause is so much more than simply when someone’s periods stop, the more we raise awareness in the communities we serve as well as within our own workplaces, the more people will perhaps have greater insights which enable them to suffer less. You may also be interested in this blog by COPE Scotland.
some useful twitter links:
@COPEScotland
@Menopause_cafe
@Pausitvity2
@QNIS
Useful Links
NHS Inform information on the menopause
NICE guidelines on diagnosis and management of the menopause
SIGN links on the menopause
