Menopause and Me T
Menopause and Me webinar a resounding success
he Health and Wellbeing division of HSE Mid-West their GP or other health professional, making a lifestyle change, talking Community Healthcare recently hosted a free and to someone about what they learnt at the webinar and talking to empowering evening webinar on menopause family or their partner.” called Menopause and Me. The event acknowledged Dr Cassie McVeigh gave a very holistic overview of perimenopause World Menopause Day 2021 and the need to open up a and menopause and reminded women that every menopause is conversation around the topic. Almost 380 women joined the webinar different and therefore needs to be responded to and managed on the night and thousands more have viewed the video of the event, differently for each woman. “It is not just a time to survive, but a time to thrive. It is a good time which is available online. to take stock, make lifestyle changes and Anne Ryan, Head of Service for HSE "It was especially heartening to Health and Wellbeing in the Mid-West, where necessary, get the right professional opened the event by noting that help,” she said. see 153 women identify actions menopause is such a significant part of Dr McVeigh gave an overview of they are going to take following Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) a woman’s journey in life. “I hope with the webinar – these included this event, we can make menopause an and other options, including lifestyle easier and more supported journey for changes, to help women. “The good news talking to their GP or other women. This is the start of a conversation is that menopause is finally becoming a health professional, making which I have no doubt will expand into mainstream topic of conversation. a lifestyle change, talking to Women are educating themselves and future initiatives. We are very grateful to all those who participated in the webinar someone about what they learnt supporting each other – so they no longer for sharing their knowledge and for their have to feel ashamed or isolated or feel at the webinar and talking to like they are giving in by choosing to opt willingness to open up and speak of their family or their partner" own experiences of menopause,” she said. for Hormone Replacement Therapy Mairead Kelly, HSE Health Promotion (HRT),” she said. Officer with a specific remit for sexual “I view menopause as a time for positive health promotion in the Mid-West, said, “We are delighted the webinar change to get ourselves in the best health we can to ensure that we was the affirming and empowering conversation for women in the are able to live into old age with the best health possible.” Mid-West that we wanted it to be. The feedback from HSE staff and Charlene Hyland, a physiotherapist with a special interest in women’s the public has been overwhelmingly positive and the feedback on health, provided a comprehensive overview of the physical aspects the night indicates an increase in confidence and knowledge in relation of perimenopause and menopause. She explained how a trained to menopause for those who joined the webinar. physiotherapist can help with many of the physical symptoms and “The three guest speakers covered a number of important topics emphasised the protective role of exercise. that responded to questions we received from women experiencing Finally, Dr Nodlaig Moore, a clinical psychologist, explained the perimenopause and menopause both prior to, and during the event. psychological aspects of perimenopause and menopause, how we relate It was especially heartening to see 153 women identify actions they to them and therefore, how we manage them. In particular, Dr Moore are going to take following the webinar – these included talking to spoke about memory loss, anxiety and depression and what can help.
The webinar is now available to watch on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel, under the title ‘Menopause and Me' HSE Health and Wellbeing Webinar. (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3oPxZQ_4zkk)
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