Women Calling For Greater Support With Menopause

Women successful nan Channel Islands who've suffered terrible menopause symptoms person said location isn't capable support available.

Dani Barnett successful Guernsey said she felt for illustration she "didn't person anyone to talk to", astatine a clip erstwhile she "didn't cognize what was going connected successful her ain body".

In Jersey, Trudi Roscouet said "Women's wellness is not a privilege for government".

The States of Jersey said it was "committed to strengthening services and support for women", and The States of Guernsey has been approached for comment.

In October 2021, Barnett, past 40, said it was a "complete shock" to beryllium sent into surgical menopause overnight, and was required to person her ovaries removed.

"I had worry and overwhelm, my accent levels were done nan roof. I was having anger fits that I had nary thought why," she said.

Barnett is primitively from Canada but has lived successful Guernsey for 20 years, and said: "The encephalon fog was extreme.

"I could transportation a gathering without immoderate problems, but past I'd beryllium sat there, not knowing what nan sanction of thing was that I've known for years, past you're embarrassed, past nan basking flushes travel and nan worry and overwhelm and it was conscionable each excessively much.

"There were days I cried because I couldn't find my slippers."

She said her acquisition was utmost and she felt she did not person anyone to talk to.

"Every clip I went backmost to nan expert they said, 'your levels are fine, you're fine.'

"But I would beryllium location successful tears and deliberation 'I'm not fine' and I didn't cognize why."

In September 2025, she launched a business offering support to others successful Guernsey because of her experience.

She said galore women fearfulness nan menopause: "They fearfulness nan unknown. So, nan much that we educate, nan much that we talk astir it, women aren't going to fearfulness it."

She said: "I'm a very outspoken personification and I attraction astir what happens to people."

"It's a support for women who possibly don't cognize what's going connected pinch their bodies."

She described nan number of women that time off their jobs because of menopausal symptoms and a deficiency of support arsenic "outrageous".

In Jersey Trudi Roscouet besides created different business aiming to raise consciousness of women's wellness and connection support aft she knowledgeable nan menopause astatine nan property of 51.

"Whether it's our children, partners, bosses, it tin impact everybody and everything," she said.

She is besides calling for much support successful nan workplace, highlighting really encephalon fog, worry and insomnia are nan apical 3 symptoms which impact women astatine work.

"The large point we request to do is support educating nan corporates to support female labor successful nan workplace - and not conscionable erstwhile successful a lifetime," she added.

Under nan UK Employment Rights Act 2025, each employers pinch much than 250 labor will beryllium required to creation and instrumentality a menopause action plan to support menopause successful nan workplace and thief women stay successful employment.

Voluntary reporting is owed to commencement successful April 2026, pinch mandatory compliance by early 2027.

The plans are required to person evidence-based steps, specified arsenic elastic working, somesthesia power and head training to trim workplace barriers.

In May 2022 Jersey's authorities signed up to becoming a menopause-friendly workplace by signing nan 51 Employer Pledge.

The 14-point promise says menopause is to beryllium treated pinch nan aforesaid level of seriousness, attraction and support arsenic different beingness and intelligence wellness conditions and that an individual attack should beryllium taken and unit supported.

Roscouet believes location is much to beryllium done, and said: "I conscionable don't deliberation nan authorities are listening astir women's wellness anymore.

"Menopause they judge has been dealt with. Women's wellness is not a privilege for them."

'Don't suffer successful silence'

In response, Deputy Andy Howell, Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services successful Jersey, pinch work for Women's Health said: "We are committed to strengthening services and support for women."

Howell pointed to dedicated clinics held astatine Rayner Outpatients and group-based sessions astatine nan Listening Lounge which focused connected coping strategies for surviving done nan menopause.

She said nan authorities was committed to processing a Women's Health Strategy and would people a Women's Health Resource web page later this year.

"We are building a stronger instauration for women's wellness and arsenic we move done 2026, our attraction remains connected delivering safe, supportive, and accessible services that meet nan needs of women astatine each shape of life," she added.

The States of Guernsey has been approached for comment.

At nan Healthcare Group successful St Martin's, Guernsey, a play menopause session is offered, led by 1 of nan island's starring experts, Dr Lucy Joslin.

She said: "I deliberation we person immoderate very bully [treatment] options, and we tin usually find thing that will suit everyone successful amongst each of those options."

She besides suggested different sources of support including Guernsey Mind, nan Menopause Discussion Group and nan British Menopause Society.

If you've been affected by immoderate of nan issues successful this story, you tin besides sojourn BBC Action Line.