Support group to help women living with menopause

To wrap up Women’s Month, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) launched a new mental health support group for women living with menopause.

The group was launched on August 31 via Zoom. The free mental health support group will be held every second Tuesday of each month.

This support group offers women living with menopause a place of comfort, support and mutual understanding.

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Support groups provide a safe space for people living with mental illness to connect, learn and share with others who have been through similar experiences.

“If a woman is feeling alone, cannot confide in anybody, if she wants to meet women who are dealing with similar challenges and if she wants encouragement and inspiration to cope with menopause, then this is the right support group,” said support group leader Wendy Landau.

“Menopause can cause mental health issues that are bewildering or worrisome as there is a double incidence of depression for women during these years.

“Your moods can change quickly and vary greatly, from laughing to crying within minutes. Sleepless nights can also contribute to mood changes.

“Night sweats, hot flushes, and heart palpitations at night can leave you feeling cranky, anxious, and irritable during the day. Some women experience ‘mind fog’.

“In addition, midlife is a time when women sometimes face multiple sources of stress, including caring for children, dealing with ageing parents, and navigating life changes, all of which may contribute to the incidence of depression and anxiety at this age,” she said.

For more information about this support group contact SADAG on 0800 21 22 23.

Benefits of a support group
• Support groups provide a place of stability and security, a place in which you can feel respected, nurtured and cared for.
• It is the first place you can go where everyone understands and no one judges.
• There is a code of confidentiality in the group and each member’s privacy and dignity is respected.
• A group offers hope by allowing you to be around those who have recovered. When you’re in a terrible place, it’s a wonderful experience to get a visit from a caring group member who is calling just to see how you are doing.
• Knowing that someone else truly understands by virtue of having been there themselves brings a sense of relief, you are no longer alone.
• Through group discussions, a great deal of information and education is gained. In these discussions, tips are shared for coping.
• By being with others who share your symptoms, you realise that you are not alone and there is an immediate feeling of acceptance and belonging.

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