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Almost two in three women over 50 in the UK struggle with their mental health as they deal with menopause, relationship breakdowns and changes to their appearance, a survey has found.
Brain fog, parents dying, children leaving home and financial pressures can also trigger difficulties such as sleeping problems, feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and a loss of zest for life.
However, an “epidemic of silence” surrounds the challenges women face to their mental health in midlife, as almost nine out of 10 of those affected seek no help to cope.
The findings emerged from a survey of 2,000 women aged 50 and over across Britain, commissioned by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which represents therapists.
The findings were “a sobering read”, said Dr Lisa Morrison, BACP’s director of professional standards, policy and research. “We know that for many women this stage in life presents a convergence of major challenges – from the menopause and other physical changes, to relationship breakdowns, caring responsibilities and empty-nest syndrome.
“What is most alarming is that a staggering nearly nine in 10 women [affected] are facing mental health struggles but feel the need to hide it. For many women over 50, midlife mental wellbeing challenges are having a devastating impact on their day-to-day lives.”
The negative consequences of a widespread “holding back from opening up” included trouble sleeping (59%), gaining or losing weight (43%), avoiding social events (38%) and withdrawing from friendship groups (28%), according to the survey, undertaken by the market research firm 3Gem.
Overall, 58% felt more anxious and overwhelmed by things that would previously not have affected them.
Asked what stopped them opening up about their mental welfare, women said they did not want to burden people (4%), felt they needed to “hold it together” for others (45%), feared that other people would not understand (27%), and tended to keep a “stiff upper lip” (24%).
The BACP is launching a campaign today to warn midlife women that “stiff upper lip” culture is bad for them and they should consider therapy as a form of support.
Menopause presents particular challenges: the BACP’s Mindometer research, its annual survey of almost 3,000 therapists, has identified a significant rise in women seeking therapy to help them cope with concerns related to it, especially anxiety.
When women were asked what pressures they had faced since turning 50 that affected their mental wellbeing, brain fog – a common side-effect of menopause – was the commonest answer (38%), and navigating menopause (34%) was the third most cited.
“Menopause can lead to symptoms such as brain fog, poor sleep and memory loss, which can make women question their own competence and abilities,” said Morrison. “Alongside this many are navigating a transition in their home lives. This might include grief, taking on caring responsibilities for ageing relatives, young adult children leaving home, or the breakdown of a relationship.”
Financial difficulties were also common, Morrison said. “A culmination of even just a couple of these issues, on top of the usual day-to-day challenges, can be enough to make women feel overstretched and unsupported.”
Janet Lindsay, the chief executive of the charity Wellbeing of Women , said: “Hormonal changes during menopause can have a significant impact on women’s mental health. A culture of dismissal can leave many feeling pressured into keeping their struggles to themselves.
“Perimenopause and menopause symptoms or fluctuating oestrogen can lead to anxiety, low mood, irritability and brain fog, and without proper support, these can have a profound impact on a woman’s life and wellbeing.”
A survey published on Wednesday of 9,600 mothers in 12 European countries found that 71% of mothers in the UK felt overloaded and 47% suffered from mental health challenges, such as depression and burnout.
