It’s Time to Talk Menopause: Supporting Women’s Wellness on Set and Beyond
- Calltime Mental Health
- Mar 31
- 7 min read
Menopause is a natural phase of life, yet for many women, it remains one of the most misunderstood and overlooked health transitions - especially in the workplace. Despite affecting half the population, menopause is rarely discussed openly, leading many women to struggle in silence with symptoms that can impact their mental health, well-being, and careers.
In the film and television industry - where long hours, unpredictable schedules, and high-pressure environments are the norm - these challenges can be even more intense. For too long, menopause has been dismissed as "just hot flashes," when in reality, its effects can be profound. Brain fog, exhaustion, anxiety, mood swings, and sleep disturbances can leave women feeling overwhelmed, and without proper recognition or support, many are left to navigate this major life transition alone.
It’s time to break the silence. Let’s talk about the real impact of menopause, the gaps in proper care, and what workplaces, peers, and women themselves can do to foster a more supportive and understanding industry.
“I have been treating menopausal women for decades and know the serious toll symptoms can take on their physical health, their mental health, their careers, their relationships and their overall quality of life. Menopause is seen as something women must endure, like a woman’s burden. This is unacceptable. Women deserve to feel healthy. They should not suffer in silence. There is preventative care, lifestyle choices, and safe and effective treatment options available to help them thrive during their menopausal years.”
- Dr. Wendy Wolfman, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, NCMP, President of the Menopause Society of Canada, Director of the Menopause Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital, first recipient of the Carol Mitchell Chair in Menopause.
Why Is Menopause Still So Misunderstood?
One of the biggest challenges surrounding menopause is misdiagnosis and lack of awareness, even within the medical community. Many doctors aren’t properly trained to recognize or treat menopause-related symptoms, often prescribing antidepressants for mood issues or anxiety without realizing the root cause is hormonal. In fact, many of the symptoms used to screen for depression, including fatigue, sleep disruption, trouble concentrating, and low mood, can also be caused by menopause-related hormonal changes, leading to potential misdiagnosis[1].
Women are often told, “It’s just stress,” or “You’re getting older,” when in reality, hormonal fluctuations are creating major physical, cognitive, and emotional shifts. Some women have even been misdiagnosed with early dementia [2] due to menopause-related memory and cognitive changes, only to later find that proper treatment completely reversed their symptoms.
When healthcare providers don’t connect the dots, women are left without the support they need. This is why self-advocacy is crucial. Learning about menopause, tracking symptoms, and pushing for proper treatment can make all the difference.
Menopause 101: What It Is and Why It Matters
Let’s clear up some confusion. Menopause isn’t just “hot flashes” and “the end of periods.” It’s a multi-stage biological transition that can start years before your last period and continue well after.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Perimenopause: The phase leading up to menopause, usually starting in a woman’s 40s (sometimes earlier). Hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate wildly. Common symptoms include irregular periods, mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, night sweats, brain fog, and disrupted sleep.
Menopause: Officially marked when a woman hasn’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. Hormonal levels settle into a new, lower baseline. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances may still be present.
Postmenopause: The phase after menopause, where some symptoms may improve, but others - like joint pain or mood changes - can persist or shift. This is also when long-term health concerns like heart disease or osteoporosis become more relevant.
It’s important to note that every woman’s journey is different. Some experience few symptoms, while others face significant mental and physical challenges that affect daily life and work performance.
The key takeaway? If you’re not feeling like yourself and you're between 35-60, menopause may be playing a role. And even if you’re not going through it personally, chances are someone you work with is.
If Halle Berry Can Talk About It, So Can We
In 2024, actress Halle Berry made headlines, not for a role, but for her honesty. Speaking at a women’s wellness event, she shared how she was misdiagnosed during early menopause and encouraged other women to advocate for themselves.
“I feel like I have a new purpose now - to tell women the truth,” she said, describing how she was initially told her perimenopausal symptoms were a low-grade herpes infection. It wasn’t until later that she learned she was starting menopause and how little support and accurate information was available to her.
Berry’s candor opened the door for a bigger conversation, one that includes not just celebrities, but everyday women on sets, in studios, and behind the scenes. When well-known women speak up, it reminds us that menopause doesn’t discriminate, and the need for better awareness and support is universal.
The Workplace Impact
For women working in the fast-paced world of film and TV production, menopause symptoms can be particularly difficult to manage. Forgetfulness, trouble focusing, and sleep deprivation from night sweats or insomnia can make long shoots and demanding schedules feel even more exhausting. Add in the industry’s culture of pushing through, no matter what, and it’s easy to see why many women feel pressure to hide their struggles.
A recent study found that 72% of women hide their menopause symptoms at work[3] out of fear of stigma. Many worry they’ll be seen as less capable, that their leadership will be questioned, or that they’ll miss out on opportunities because of age-related bias.
But the reality is, menopause shouldn’t be a career-affecting event. With the right accommodations and support, women can continue to thrive in their jobs. Some progressive workplaces are already taking steps to support their employees through this transition, offering accommodations like:
✅ Flexible work arrangements to help with fatigue and sleep disruptions.
✅ Cool, quiet spaces to manage hot flashes and brain fog.
✅ Education for managers and peers to reduce stigma and increase awareness.
✅ Health benefits that cover menopause care and hormone therapy.
The film industry has an opportunity to lead the way by creating more inclusive workplaces where women don’t have to suffer in silence.
How Can Workplaces and Peers Be More Supportive?
For Employers & Unions:
🔹 Acknowledge Menopause as a Workplace Wellness Issue. Create policies that support women experiencing symptoms, just as workplaces accommodate other health-related needs.
🔹 Educate Leaders & HR Teams. Training can help reduce stigma and ensure managers respond with understanding instead of bias.
🔹 Encourage Open Conversations. Women should feel safe discussing menopause without fear of judgment.
For Colleagues & Peers:
🔹 Offer Support, Not Judgment. If a co-worker shares that they’re struggling with menopause symptoms, listen and offer understanding.
🔹 Avoid Dismissive Comments. Saying, “It’s just part of aging” or “You’ll get through it” can be invalidating. Instead, ask, “How can I support you?”
🔹 Challenge Stigma. If you hear menopause being used as an insult or joke, push back. The more we normalize the conversation, the less isolating it becomes.
Self-Advocacy: What Women Can Do for Themselves
If you’re navigating menopause and struggling with symptoms, know that you are not alone and there are steps you can take to advocate for your health and well-being.
📝 Track Your Symptoms. Keep a journal of what you’re experiencing; mood swings, fatigue, memory lapses, etc. This will help you communicate clearly with healthcare providers.
📢 Speak Up at Work. If symptoms are affecting your job, consider discussing accommodations with HR or your union representative.
👩⚕️ Seek Out Menopause-Literate Doctors. Not all healthcare providers are well-versed in menopause treatment. If your symptoms are dismissed, get a second opinion.
💊 Explore Treatment Options. Hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and even non-hormonal treatments can help manage symptoms.
💡 Find Community. Connecting with other women going through the same thing, whether in person or online, can be empowering and reassuring.
It’s Time for Change
Menopause is not just a personal struggle, it’s a workplace and mental health issue. Women in the film industry have spent decades breaking down barriers, and this is another frontier where change is needed. By raising awareness, advocating for better workplace support, and ensuring women receive proper medical care, we can create a future where menopause isn’t a silent struggle, but an openly discussed and well-supported transition.
The more we talk about it, support one another, and push for better care, the easier it will be for future generations of women in this industry.
🔹 Let’s break the silence.
🔹 Let’s push for real solutions.
🔹 And let’s ensure that no woman has to navigate this alone.
Resources for Support
Menopause Foundation of Canada – menopausefoundationcanada.ca
North American Menopause Society (NAMS) – menopause.org
Workplace Menopause Resources (UK-based but insightful) – cipd.co.uk
Calltime Mental Health Resources – calltimementalhealth.com
If you’re struggling, know that support is available. Let’s start the conversation.
Sources and further reading
The Menopause Foundation of Canada released a landmark national research report on October 6, 2022, revealing the steep toll of silence and stigma on Canadian women as they go through menopause: The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada
The Menopause Foundation of Canada released a groundbreaking report on October 16, 2023 showing the staggering $3.5 billion cost of unmanaged symptoms of menopause to the Canadian economy: Menopause and Work in Canada
Fortune. (2024, May 2). Halle Berry on why menopause is still stigmatized: 'We have to talk about this' [Online article]. https://fortune.com/well/2024/05/02/halle-berry-menopause-stigma/
Grandey, A. A., & Gabriel, A. S. (2022, December 14). Research: Workplace stigma around menopause is real. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/12/research-workplace-stigma-around-menopause-is-real
Santoro, N., Roeca, C., Peters, B. A., & Neal-Perry, G. (2021). The Menopause Transition: Signs, Symptoms, and Management Options. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 106(1), 1–15.
Therapy in a Nutshell (2024, May 2). How menopause impacts mental health with Dr. Mary Claire Haver [Video]. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTIlai-6kD8
Verdonk, P., Bendien, E., & Appelman, Y. (2022). Menopause and work: A narrative literature review about menopause, work and health. Work (Reading, Mass.), 72(2), 483–496.
Comentarios