The 'life changing' Belfast group supporting women through menopause

A group in Belfast is giving women a safe space to gain support to help understand more about menopause.

The menopause café, operated by the East Belfast Community Development Agency (EBCDA) and supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA), runs monthly pop-up events to reach out to women confused about their symptoms, or in need of further support or friendship through this stage of their lives.

Events take place on the first Monday of each month in different locations around East Belfast. A speaker is typically in attendance to speak about a specific topic relating to menopause, with members of the group going home with more knowledge and hopefully some questions answered.

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Belfast Live was invited along to the group's April event, which was held at Café Smart on the Belmont Road. Dr Marie-Louise Thornton was there to speak, before handing the floor over to the participants for a thorough and insightful Q&A session.

Davina Mullin, the health development coordinator at the East Belfast Community Development Agency, said many members of the group have described it as "life changing."

She said: "It's not all about HRT, because I think that's what's out there at the minute. A lot of the women who would come along to the café have maybe decided HRT isn't for them, or they've chosen not to use it.

"The café is mostly based off a chat and round table discussions, where people can have chats with each other and get that peer support as well. We've done things such as yoga classes, we've chatted about skincare, reflexology, and focusing on the holistic side of things as well as the medical side too.

"We finish with a takeaway, we have something for members to take home whether it's a book or something related to what we're doing. For example, one week we focused on holistic therapy and made our own bath salts and hand creams with ingredients to aid menopause symptoms, and they were able to take them home."

The menopause café has been operating since October 2021, and there are now 250 people signed up to their mailing list. Each event typically has around 25 to 35 women in attendance, depending on the venue space available.

Friends Roisin and Dolores have been attending the menopause café for the past two years, and said the support provided is "phenomenal." They said they learn something every session and more than that, it gives them a set date each month to see each other.

Dolores said: "For me, coming along isn't so much about the menopause as my symptoms were okay, I was able to manage them. Coming along is about seeing my friends. Roisin and I have been friends since we were 17 but don't see each other all that often.

"So this for us is a perfect time to meet together. But coming along and hearing somebody else having those exact same menopause symptoms and being able to talk about it, it's invaluable. Having those conversations lets you know you're not alone.

"Our parents and grandparents didn't have an outlet like this to talk, so these guys have done a phenomenal job, and I hope they continue to do it."

Roisin said: "I really love coming along. It's a really supportive, safe space, and you're not coming in here worrying about how you look, or worrying if your face is red because you're having a hot flush.

"Everybody knows they're gonna be in the same boat and the team have been so supportive and nurturing, they just look after us. You come in and you don't know any of the girls, but they're all so lovely and make you feel welcome."

Davina said many women come to their first session alone, but that everyone gets along and quickly friendships form. She added: "Many of the women who come, their first time they're alone and they might sit beside a group of ladies they don't know. Then you'll see them coming in the next month with that group.

"So I would say, if anyone is hesitant, please don't be. Everybody is so welcoming and connections are quickly made."

Victoria Creasy, Senior Officer for Health Improvement at the Public Health Agency, said: "In the last decade we’ve seen the whole culture around menopause shift massively to a place where many women feel they can talk openly about it, and ask questions.

"Menopause Cafés are a vital part of that movement - they make a huge difference to women, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences, learn about ways to manage menopause symptoms, make friends and have a laugh. It’s great to see the impact the cafes are having in the community and we are delighted to continue to support East Belfast Community Development Agency in this vital work."

The menopause café takes place at 7pm on the first Monday of each month. More details can be found through the East Belfast Community Development Agency by clicking here.

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