Menopause affects every woman, yet many still reach it feeling unprepared.
One Wednesday Wellness session on Lichfield Radio last month, I was delighted to welcome Samantha Jones, volunteer host of Menopause Café Lichfield. We had a fascinating conversation about breaking down the stigma surrounding menopause and creating safe, welcoming spaces where people can talk.
Many people are surprised to learn that a Menopause Café isn’t a support group, a counselling session or a medical clinic – rather, it’s an informal gathering where people come together over a cuppa to share experiences, ask questions, listen, learn and realise they’re far from alone.
The Menopause Café began in Scotland in 2017 and has since grown into an international charity, with more than 800 volunteer hosts worldwide. Every cafe follows the same simple philosophy: to increase awareness of menopause and reduce the stigma that still surrounds it by encouraging open and respectful conversation.
As Sam explained during our discussion, menopause affects every woman, yet many still reach it feeling unprepared. Symptoms can range from the well-known hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety, brain fog, joint pain, poor sleep, reduced confidence and changes in mood. However, because every woman’s experience is different, having somewhere to hear real-life stories can be incredibly reassuring – it can be very helpful to realise you are not alone, and are not the only one suffering from what seems to be a wide, varied and random range of symptoms!
Perhaps most importantly, Menopause Cafés are for everyone. Partners, family members, friends, colleagues and employers are all welcome. The more we understand menopause, the easier it becomes to support the women in our lives and workplaces – and it is even possible to have a Menopause Cafe event in your business if it is large enough.
Sam recently hosted an event titled Reframing Menopause: Wisdom from the Waves at the beautiful Lichfield Cathedral, giving local people the opportunity to drop in for an informal chat in one of the city’s most iconic settings. Since this time, Menopause Café Lichfield has operated from The Hub at St Mary’s. The first cafe at the new venue took place on Sunday 23 August.
During our interview, Sam also recommended an excellent free resource for anyone wanting a straightforward introduction to menopause. The Menopause Support Booklet is an easy-to-read guide covering what menopause is, common symptoms, treatment options and practical advice for both women and those supporting them. Whether you’re approaching menopause yourself, already experiencing it or simply want to better understand what a loved one may be going through, it’s well worth a read.
One of the strongest messages from our conversation was that menopause shouldn’t be something women simply have to “get through” in silence. While medical support and treatments such as hormone replacement therapy can be life-changing for many, simply having honest conversations can be equally powerful. Sharing experiences helps normalise menopause, reduces feelings of isolation and empowers women to seek the support they deserve.
For more information about the worldwide Menopause Café movement, visit the official website: https://www.menopausecafe.net
To download the free Menopause Support Booklet recommended by Sam: https://share.google/531wEKJunCljf1nsc
A huge thank you to Samantha Jones for joining us on Wednesday Wellness and for the incredible work she does helping to make conversations about menopause open, supportive and completely normal. Long may those conversations continue.
If you want to find out more about what Sally does, find her on Sallywagstaff.co.uk and all associated social media!