Emotional & Mental support
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Women’s Wellness Hub
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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Am I eligible for Legal Aid?
Am I eligble for financial support through Legal Aid?
If you need a lawyer for ongoing legal help or to represent you in court and you don’t have enough money to pay, you may be able to get legal assistance from Legal Aid. Legal Aid is the Australian organisation that delivers a variety of legal services to disadvantaged people across your relevant state/territory. Unfortunately, they do not have the resources to help everyone with a legal problem and therefore can only assist if your case falls within their strict guidelines. The main ways they decide if you can access this legal help are as follows:
1. They look at your financial situation
a) They will do a ‘means test’ which will look at the amount of your total income (Centrelink payments including Family Tax Benefit A, Family Tax Benefit B etc. child support payment, child maintenance payments, spousal maintenance payments, what you earn including any investments, any insurance policy claims for example accident, sickness or disability benefits) and total assets (equity in your home, money in the bank etc);
b) They will consider any support or financial help you provide to other people, for example a partner or child/ren;
c) They will also look at the assets and income of any other person who provides you with regular financial support, for example gives you money, helps pay your bills, or shares your living expenses ( for example a relative, friend, spouse, former partner etc).
PLEASE NOTE: The MEANS TEST (the amount and assets/income you can earn to be eligible) is different for each state/territory.
They will also look at the ‘merit’ of your case
This means, what is the prospect/chances of your matter being successful if it went to court?
To decide this, Legal Aid looks at the legal situation and the facts of your case to decide if it is likely to succeed or fail if it goes to court – they consider - would a sensible person risk their money to take the particular case to court?
They might also look at your special circumstances
There are sometimes applicants who may not succeed with the ‘means test’ requirements but they deserve special consideration because they experience multiple disadvantages. This may mean you get some assistance with legal costs.
If you are experiencing, for example:
domestic violence,
live in a remote area,
have an intellectual, psychiatric or physical disability.
or other disadvantage,
you may be eligible for a grant of aid via Legal Aid’s special circumstances guidelines.
What to do next?
We highly recommend you do the following if you think you may be eligible:
Have a look at the Legal Aid Application form relevant to your particular state or territory to see what information they would require you to provide. There are a significant number of documents you need to submit with your application to prove your financial situation.
PLEASE NOTE: The Application Form and terms are different for each state/territory.
Write down notes on why you think you might be eligible or any other questions you have about applying for Legal Aid.
Ring your own state Legal Aid office for a free consultation to discuss whether you are eligible for Legal Aid and what to do next.
Ask Legal Aid how you can get help, if needed, to fill in the application form and to submit it.
NOTE: An interpreter can be arranged. Arrangements can be made to assist you with an accredited interpreter or National Relay Service for the hearing impaired.
The Application Form
The Application form must only be submitted in the approved form for your own state or territory.
NOTE: Each state/territory has a slightly different application form!
A copy of the Application Form is available by:
* The Legal Aid website – check it is the Legal Aid website for your state/territory (you can download the application from the documents sections).
*Collect the application form in person by going into any of the Legal Aid offices in your state/territory.
* Call them and ask for one to be mailed to you.
*Email your Legal Aid office and provide your name and address and ask one to be mailed to you or your PO Box.
If you qualify for Legal Aid
If you qualify (your application is approved), Legal Aid will get a lawyer to represent you under a grant of legal aid for your matter. They can speak for you in court, help you prepare legal documents related to your case and help you reach agreement with the other party.
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