World Menopause Month has been marked by staff at NHS Ayrshire and Arran who hosted a special awareness event at Crosshouse Hospital.
Participants were treated to talks from key speakers who voiced the importance of breaking the taboos that exist around menopause.
On the day, women shared the experience of menopause and penned a taboo about menopause on a foam brick that was built into a wall and then ‘broken down’ with an inflatable hammer.
Women of menopausal age are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce and it's hoped World Menopause Month will shed light on these issues to employers looking to retain experienced staff.
Lynne McNiven, NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Director of Public Health, said: “Menopause is something that half the population will go through at some point and some of the symptoms can be quite severe and have a significant impact on everyday life.
"We want to make it easier for our staff to talk to their manager and colleagues about what they are experiencing and what support they may need.
"Within NHS Ayrshire & Arran, just over 45 per cent of our workforce are women aged 45 years or over, so it vital that we support those women to feel comfortable at work.
“Our staff awareness and support programme includes: face-to face support sessions open to all staff; a new training module for managers; and new and updated staff information and resources with signposting to available help – poster, leaflet, promotional items, videos.
“We want women to know that their life doesn’t have to be put on hold because of menopause.
"There are many things that they can do to help themselves at this time. A healthy diet, regular exercise, prioritising sleep and reducing stress are the foundations to a healthy lifestyle and can help with symptoms and reduce the risk of future health problems.”
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