Menopause, Mental Health & Suicide Awareness (Open Access Course)

About This Event

Live online training via MS Teams

The Academy at Harmless is pleased to offer life-saving training to delegates from all sectors and backgrounds through its Open Access Courses.

Women aged 45–54 – the typical perimenopause and menopause years – have the highest suicide rates among UK women. This course helps participants understand the impact of menopause on mental health, recognise both biological and psychosocial risk factors, and develop the skills to respond with sensitivity and practical support.

Learning outcomes:

• Define menopause stages and associated physiological changes.
• Identify menopause’s impact on mental health, including common symptoms and how menopause can exacerbate or trigger them, or be a risk factor for suicidal ideation.
• Understand the role of hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone) in brain function and how their decline affects brain chemistry, mental, and physical health.
• Recognise biological and psychosocial risk factors and their interplay.
• Analyse the impact of stigma and misinformation on mental well-being, treatment, diagnosis, and distress.
• Develop sensitive communication skills for discussing menopause and mental health.
• Acquire knowledge of evidence-based treatments (pharmacological and non-pharmacological), holistic approaches, and support resources.
• Respond confidently by providing accurate information, dispelling myths, and advocating for improved understanding.

Our online training is delivered via MS Teams. Once registered, you will receive an email with login details for the session. During sessions, we provide all delegates with frequent breaks to ensure that screen fatigue is kept to a minimum.

Who Should Attend
This training is designed for a broad spectrum of professionals and individuals across the public, private, and voluntary sectors, including all staff, managers, and volunteers, whose professional duties or personal roles involve direct or indirect support of women. The course is essential for anyone seeking to improve their personal confidence and skills in recognising signs and symptoms of menopause, managing a supportive conversation, implementing supportive practice in workplaces and facilitating access to appropriate help.

Target audiences may include:

• Healthcare Professionals:
  • Primary Care Staff (e.g., GPs, practice nurses, practitioners) whose standard training on menopause may be limited.
  • Mental Health Services and Clinical Staff who support women.
• Workplace Professionals:
  • Managers and HR staff responsible for employee well-being and supporting staff through menopausal symptoms that may impact mental health and performance.
  • Occupational Health various personnel.
• Frontline Staff (General): Any frontline worker whose role involves supporting women, especially in the 45-54 age bracket and may encounter them in distress.
• Social Support Networks: Family, friends, and colleagues who support women going through perimenopause or menopause.
• Women Seeking Self-Advocacy: Women in the perimenopausal/menopausal age group (or those approaching it) who wish to be better informed to advocate for themselves and their health.

About Harmless
Harmless is the centre of excellence for self harm and suicide prevention. Each year, we support thousands of people who self harm, are in suicide crisis or have been bereaved by suicide. We’re also committed to sharing our expertise so everyone feels confident talking about mental health and supporting those in distress. That’s why we created The Academy at Harmless – to equip people to respond with confidence and compassion when it matters most. All our inclusive, interactive training is CPD-accredited, aligned with national guidelines and delivered by expert Training & Education Officers.

Self-Care
The topics covered in this training can be emotionally challenging. Delegates are encouraged to be mindful of the personal impact that this training may have and to seek reassurance, support or guidance from the Trainer if they feel distressed or affected. We also encourage delegates to practise self-care throughout the course – taking breaks as needed and managing personal disclosure. All Trainers have direct access to a clinical team for additional support if required.