Ep. 39 Shining Light on Shadows: Perimenopause and Mental Health
- Neil Parekh
- Nov 10
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Dawn and I have talked about doing a show on Menopause and Mental Health for several months. It’s a topic that many of our friends, co-workers and colleagues will appreciate. During our last episode, we decided–during the live show–to do it. We will devote two episodes to this discussion: Ep. 39 will focus on Perimenopause and Mental Health (Thursday, Nov. 13) and Ep. 40 will focus on Menopause and Mental Health (Thursday, Dec. 11).
Instead of one guest, we will have three guests for each show. For our discussion on Perimenopause, we will be joined by Dr. Ellen Albertson, who serves on the Medical Advisory Committee for the National Menopause Foundation; Lisa Falcone, CRNP, who is currently in Perimenopause and works as a nurse practitioner at the Lifecycle™ Wellness and Birth Center; and Aisha Sultan, a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who has written about her own experience with Perimenopause.
Click here for the National Menopause Foundation's Menopause Checklist.
We will be live Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. PT. If you can’t watch the live show, feel free to watch the recording on this page or on the links below.
We are proud to be producing this episode in partnership with the National Menopause Foundation. “Shining Light on Shadows: A Candid Conversation About Mental Health” is produced by Digimentors on a pro bono basis.
Watch the recording on this page or watch and comment on social media: Facebook* | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube
*Facebook will delete the video in about 30 days (approx. December 12).
Programming Notes
Ep. 38 featured a discussion with Kate Easton on what happens when a new mental health diagnosis reframes or contradicts an earlier diagnosis. Click here to watch.
We will not host a show on Thursday, November 27 because of Thanksgiving. Our next show, Ep. 40 will be Thursday, December 11 (the second Thursday of December) and will focus on Post-Menopause and Mental Health.
Perimenopause and Mental Health Speakers
Dr. Ellen Albertson, a psychologist, serves on the National Menopause Foundation’s Medical Advisory Committee and will talk about their work on this issue.
She is a health and wellness coach, and registered dietitian.
She herself experienced depression during perimenopause and will offer suggestions on how to manage the transition, emphasizing the importance of diet, lifestyle changes and self-compassion.
Lisa Falcone, CRNP is currently in perimenopause. She has worked with many clients who have experienced increased anxiety and mood changes in perimenopause / menopause, sometimes presenting as "rage." She has also seen how the physical changes can be hard on women's mental health and will speak to the lack of education around Perimenopause. The Lifecycle™ Wellness and Birth Center provides reproductive care that spans a lifetime, from adolescence through the post-menopausal years.
Aisha Sultan, is a syndicated columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
She is currently in perimenopause and has written several columns about her experience, including “Brain Fog and Menopause” and “Why No One Talks About Perimenopause.”
She was a guest on Episode 30 of “Shining Light on Shadows,” telling us about a 12-part series on Mental Health she produced for the local PBS station in St. Louis.
Background
Dawn and I launched this twice a month show (usually the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month) in order to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Thank you for being part of our community.
We are proud to be in Year 2 of the show and we’re looking forward to Year 3 in 2026. If you are interested in being a guest on the show or know someone who might be interested, please let us know. We’re looking for people who would be willing to share their story, advocates and people who work in the field of mental health.
We hope you can watch the show and share your own thoughts in the comments.
Resources / Relevant Links
National Menopause Foundation
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline
800-950-6264 Or text "HelpLine" to 6264; nami.org
Mental Health America Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org; mhanational.org Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673); rainn.org
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