World Menopause Day Special: Diane Danzebrink & Bloom U.K. on Making Menopause Matter

The Capsule in Conversation

SENSITIVE TOPIC: This episode contains conversations around suicide and suicidal ideation. In this special episode we mark World Menopause Day (18th Oct) with founder of the #makemenopausematter campaign Diane Danzebrink and Bloom UK’s Jules Castenskiold. Highlighting the complex and varied impacts of menopause, Diane shares the personal story that led her to starting the #makemenopausematter campaign as a way of supporting women through what is often a difficult transitional period for many women. Diane was catapulted into early menopause after an operation on her ovaries in 2012, she was given no prior warning that this would happen which resulted in her not understanding her symptoms when she became both physically and mentally unwell. Her symptoms became so severe that she almost took her own life. Diane’s experience galvanised her to set about making change for other women and thus the #makemenopausemattercampaign was born which in recent years has found its way into the mainstream with high profile voices and platforms such as Davina McCall and Channel 4 giving the campaign their support. Building on Diane’s change making campaign, Bloom UK an organisation which supports women in the communications industry have developed their own menopause resource for employers and employees as way to keep perimenopausal and menopausal women in the workplace. Their studies found that 80% of women felt uncomfortable talking to their employers about menopause symptoms and in fact 1 in 4 women will leave their jobs because of it. The Bloom Menofesto aims to educate employers on how best to help their workforce with Bloom offering accreditation to those who wish to be viewed as a menopause supportive workplace. During this chat you’ll hear how both the work that Diane and Bloom are doing are changing the landscape for future generations of women but how so much more needs to be done to achieve their goals. Listen in for an educational, insightful and inspiring conversation. For more information on the Bloom Menofesto please visit https://www.bloomnetwork.uk/menofesto And to get involved with the #makemenopausematter campaign please visit www.menopausesupport.co.uk