Emotional & Mental support
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Women going through the menopausal transition are at a higher risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Common physical, emotional and cognitive issues related to menopause can complicate and overlap with mental health symptoms.
Stress related to life circumstances can also complicate understanding whether changes in mood and mental health are related to menopause.
Having an open discussion about your symptoms, life circumstances and mental health history can assist your doctor in offering suitable treatment options and lifestyle changes.
Therapies proven for the broader population are also suitable for mental health symptoms related to menopause – medication, psychological therapy and lifestyle changes.
While not a problem for everyone transitioning through menopause, the risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety are higher during perimenopause, even in women without a history of major depression.
While the risk is higher for women in the age-related and natural menopausal transition, women might also have a higher risk of mood changes after menopause caused by surgery such as hysterectomy or if the ovaries have been removed. Depression also occurs at a higher rate in women with a lack of oestrogen caused by primary ovarian insufficiency.
Mental health symptoms related to menopause
Mental health symptoms related to menopause can include feeling:
irritable, sad, anxious, hopeless
stuggling to focus, concentrate, forgetful,
tired, unmotivated
Some women might experience these symptoms in a mild form which others unfortunately may suffer more severe symptoms of depression (including thoughts of suicide) lasting for at least two weeks. This is known as a major depressive episode and is more likely in women who have a history of major depression during their pre-menopausal years.
While many women do not have mental health issues during the menopausal transition, unstable oestrogen levels can have an impact on the brain, predisposing some women to feelings of depression and anxiety.
Some of the common physical, memory and thinking symptoms related to menopause (hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and sexual disturbances, weight changes and “brain fog”) can complicate and overlap with mental health symptoms.
Another complicating factor is stress related to life circumstances. Feeling stress is common during middle age as personal and environmental changes take place. This can have a strong effect on mood in some women. Life circumstances that can impact mental health include caring for children, teen issues, carers for elderly family members, career changes, body changes, illnesses, pre-existing ADHD, relatonships, pain levels, medication.
The menopause transition is an ideal time to look at your health and consider lifestyle and other changes so that you can live the healthiest possible lifestyle.
Untangling physical and mental health symptoms related to menopause
For some women, mental health issues and other changes can begin to affect how they live their lives. Your doctor can take a holistic approach to your health to help you untangle the web of symptoms around physical and mental health changes.
Understanding mental health during perimenopausal and postmenopausal changes can include:
identifying your stage of perimenopause / menopause and any physical and cognitive symptoms
discussing your history of mental health symptoms
discussing your current mental health symptoms
understanding any lifestyle factors that could affect your mood – for example, lack of sleep and exercise understanding other stressful life circumstances contributing to your symptoms – for example, caring for children and parents, career and relationship changes, body changes and illness.
When you see your GP/specialist it is important to explain the realm of menopausal symptoms you are experiencing as well as your life circumstances and clinical history so that they can help them to recommend the best treatment options and lifestyle and behavioural changes for your situation.
Treatment options for mental health symptoms
Lifestyle changes to assist with managing mental health are similar to those recommended for menopause-related physical changes. Changes that can help with mental health symptoms include:
ensuring healthy levels of physical activity
improving sleep
considering changes to decrease stress associated with life circumstances
limit alcohol intake
Psychological therapies and social supports can be beneficial to women with mental health symptoms.
Women should have an individualised assessment with their doctor in order to discuss the most appropriate treatment pathway. Options may include lifestyle changes, psychological therapies and medications such as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or antidepressants.
While some international guidelines do not recommend MHT as firstline therapy, many doctors have seen a positive effect on mood with the use of MHT in the first instance.
There is evidence that oestrogen has antidepressant effects, particularly in perimenopausal women. We emphasise an individualised approach with treatment tailored to the individual patient.
Oestrogen is not recommended for women with a history of breast cancer.
At this stage, there is no evidence to recommend alternative or complementary therapies for treatment of perimenopausal depression.
Where can you find more information?
If your mental health or other symptoms are bothering you, your doctor can help. Your doctor can help you understand physical and mental health changes and offer options for managing your sympt
Help for depression and mood changes?
If you have severe mental health symptoms or symptoms of depression and have thoughts of suicide, help is available.
Lifeline – Phone 13 11 14
beyondblue – Phone 1300 22 4636
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Could your previous spending be added back in the asset split?
Dividing assets – could your historical or current spend be added back?
When couples separate, dividing assets can be complex, especially when one party has used, disposed of, or hidden assets before a settlement being reached.
The legal concept of "add-backs" allows courts to account for those assets by "adding back" funds into the asset pool. The recent case of Boulton & Boulton and amendments to the Family Law Act, commencing June 2025, highlight the need to be aware of the changes for anyone currently involved in property settlements.
The current three main categories of add-backs are:
Where there has been a premature distribution of assets, and property that has been disposed of or used for the benefit of one party.
Property not disclosed or accounted for, including conduct designed to intentionally, recklessly, or negligently reduce the value of an asset; and
Money spent on legal fees.
In the recent case of Boulton & Boulton, the complexities of add-backs were highlighted. It showed that the parties may need to present evidence of spend, including historical spend, when seeking to add money back into the asset pool, or when opposing an add-back. The judge in that case noted that extensive use of add-backs can significantly affect the distribution of property and that the Family Law Act allows the court to take into account any fact or circumstance to ensure justice prevails.
Boulton Case facts
Over $3 million of add-backs proposed by the wife were disputed by the husband. The court eventually added back $1,256,400 to the asset pool, which included the following transactions:
$60,200 paid by the husband to his brother's company for what the court deemed to be an illegitimate invoice;
$596,000 from the sale of a property in 2017; and
$600,000 withdrawn by the husband from a joint account.
The judge in Boulton accepted some of the wife's proposed add-backs, including a significant add-back of $600,000, which the wife claimed the husband had withdrawn from a joint account in 2010, 11 years before they separated.
The husband claimed it was unfair and onerous for the Court to expect him to undertake a tracing exercise that far back. However, the Court held the husband did not provide a satisfactory explanation for the dissipation of $600,000, causing the judge to infer the husband had retained the benefit of the funds.
Legal Fee spend
We also note that in the case of Trevi & Trevi the court held that when legal fees are paid from property that would otherwise be included in the asset pool, those amounts are almost always added back.
June 2025 Amendments to the Family Law Act
The legislative amendments to the Family Law Act, coming into effect on 10 June 2025, may change the way the court addresses add-backs. Stay tuned and get advice on this more complex topic. Our panel of lawyers can assist you.
All information in this blog is of a general nature only and is not intended to be relied upon as, nor to be a substitute for, specific legal professional advice. No responsibility for the loss occasioned to any person acting on or refraining from action as a result of any material published can be accepted
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