This is a short transcript excerpt from a YouTube video by Dr. Shilpa Sayana discussing the mental-health impacts of perimenopause and menopause. Speakers highlight that suicide rates in U.S. women peak between ages 45–55 — an age range overlapping perimenopause/menopause — and emphasize that depression is a common menopausal symptom; they recommend community and peer support to reduce isolation.
Because, as you know, in the United States, the biggest suicide in women is between 45 and 55. Wow. Like, women are killing themselves in this age. And this is the age of perimenopause, menopause, post menopause. And you can imagine, right? They have so many things going on in their lives. Their kids are going to college, they might be getting a divorce. They might be reaching their peak in their career, and they're like, is this it? Their parents are aging, and they have all these hormonal things happening and can be a very lonely time. So I'm always encouraging my patients, please find community, reach out to your fellow sisters and friends so you can organize that.
I think this is a really important point, is to emphasize that with menopausal symptoms, or however we want to refer to perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, one of the most common symptoms is depression.
