Discussions about menopause, particularly the associated mental health issues, are at an all-time high thanks to a consortium of female physicians experiencing menopause themselves and their willingness to take on the establishment for women everywhere. The numbers of female patients prescribed anti-depressants during this critical time in their lives, often by PCPs, is staggering, particularly since menopause itself is sometimes barely discussed in the visit. It is imperative that those working in integrated care settings be able to ask the most important questions about where a woman is in her menopause journey when evaluating them for behavioral health services and being able to offer sound treatment and resources that validates and normalizes their experience.
https://menopause.org/press-releases/new-study-identifies-gaps-in-menopause-care-in-primary-care-settings
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39352126/
https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/mental-health-aspects-menopause
www.thelancet.com/series/menopause-2024
Haver, M.C. (2024). The new menopause: navigating your path through hormonal change with purpose, power, and facts. Rodale.