‘We didn’t want to just have a normal conference, we wanted it to help people’ - Siobhan Kearney of Menopause NI

The menopause is a natural part of the ageing process, usually experienced by women in their mid-to-late 40s.

Although symptoms differ from person to person, a recent survey by Menopause NI found that 94% of women in Northern Ireland feel that the condition has had or is having a direct impact on their working lives.

Founder of Menopause NI Siobhan Kearney knows firsthand how the menopause can negatively impact a woman’s career, which she claims is what inspired her to set up the organisation.

“I was chief executive of a mental health charity for seven years,” she explains.

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“And during that time, I began to notice myself getting a bit more anxious, stressed, my confidence had gone down and it ultimately led me to leave my job.

“But I didn’t know at that time that I was in perimenopause.”

Perimenopause is the transitional period that occurs before the menopause when symptoms first start to appear, these can include mood changes, trouble concentrating, headaches and hot flashes.

“Logically nobody leaves a full-time, well-paid job just because they’re fed up – it was my perimenopause that was causing all of these things and I didn’t understand it.

“So that’s what inspired me to set up Menopause NI because I had no idea what was going on with me and I just didn’t want other women to feel that way.

“I’ve made it my mission to raise awareness of the menopause and to start talking about it openly.”

Menopause NI aims to destigmatise the menopause through designing and delivering comprehensive education and training programmes to both individuals and workplaces.

“I wanted our programmes to raise awareness of the things women can do to support themselves but also what businesses can do.

“When the management and leadership team understand what’s happening to their staff and staff understand what’s happening them, magic can happen,” describes Siobhan.

Accountancy firm BDO experienced this ‘magic’ first hand when they participated in one of Menopause NI’s programmes.

Laura Jackson, who is a partner within BDO’s audit and assurance team, described it as “a really validating experience.”

“Whenever we had Siobhan in and she did that session it percolated days after and people were having real and honest conversations about the menopause because of it,” Laura recalls.

“And we also had men attend because wanted to support their partners and understand the condition better - so it’s not just something for women.

“I think the biggest thing Menopause NI did for us was facilitate authentic conversation and facilitate powerful sharing of what other people are experiencing because that allyship is so important.

“When you realise that there’s somebody on your team working with you who gets it, it’s incredibly reassuring.”

To further address the gap in awareness and support for staff during menopause, Siobhan has partnered with GP, Dr Andrea Latimer, an Occupational Health Doctor and Primary Care Women’s Health and Menopause Specialist, to deliver the first Menopause NI conference.

“I wanted to get serious about the menopause,” says Siobhan.

“But we didn’t want to just have a normal conference, we wanted it to help people.

“So the first part of it will focus on evidence-based information about the menopause to really highlight the importance of it and the importance of understanding it.”

The conference, which will be held at the Clayton Hotel on Ormeau Avenue, will host a range of guest speakers including Michelle McGinley from the Employers Federation who will be discussing the importance of having secure policies in place when it comes to menopause in the workplace.

“The bigger companies are doing really well when it comes to menopause in the workplace,” explains Michelle.

“But there’s still issues around it in terms of people feeling uncomfortable so what I am hoping to do at the conference is talk about where we’re at with menopause and why it’s so important.

“50% of our workforce are female and 8 out 10 people going through menopause are in the workplace, so it does have a massive impact on businesses.

“I want to encourage people to speak up about it and then encourage the people who have spoken up to know how to deal with it.”

Additionally personal trainer and Menopause Coach, Geraldine McAleenan, author and founder of Be Inspired to Be, Belinda O’Neill, and nutritional therapist, Jane McClenaghan, will be leading workshops on fitness, confidence and nutrition.

“We thought it was important to talk about the changes in lifestyle that women should be making at this stage of their lives,” says Siobhan.

“And we’ll be running each workshop three times so everyone who comes to the conference has an opportunity to attend all three.

“I want people to leave feeling good, inspired, confident and most importantly feeling less afraid of the menopause because it’s not all bad,” she laughs.

• Sponsored by BDO, the Menopause NI Conference will take place on Friday October 18 to coincide with World Menopause Day.