Ep. 40 Shining Light on Shadows: Post-Menopause and Mental Health
- Neil Parekh
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 minutes ago
There’s a myth that when perimenopause is over, mental health issues simply go away. If you are post-menopause, was that your experience? If your partner is post-menopause, did all of your partner’s issues get resolved? Dr. Ellen Albertson, Tess Rondeau and Candace Sanchez will join Shining Light on Shadows for Ep. 40, “Post-Menopause and Mental Health” on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7pm ET / 6pm CT.
Ellen, Tess, Candace and Dawn Helmrich Neuburg, my co-host, will each share their own experiences with Post-Menopause and some of the issues they have struggled with. We will also have some practical suggestions that women can use as they enter this new phase of their lives.
This is a follow-up to Ep. 39, “Perimenopause and Mental Health” with Dr. Albertson, Lisa Falcone and Aisha Sultan.
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.
If you can’t watch the live show, feel free to watch the recording on this page or on the links below.
*Facebook will delete the video in about 30 days (approx. January 11).
Post-Menopause 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 will offer suggestions on how to manage the transition, emphasizing the importance of diet, lifestyle changes and self-compassion.
Tess Rondeau is a small business owner and has had a number of health issues over the years. Several years ago, she unexpectedly found herself post-menopause. For years, she held on to the idea that she might still be able to have children. Losing that possibility was devastating and contributed to the mental health challenges she faced.
Tess will also talk about how she didn't realize she was in perimenopause when she was going through it and the importance of self-advocacy throughout the process.
Candace Sanchez is a Thrive Coach, author, survivor and host of the podcast, "Unspoken: Conversations with Candace."
She has struggled with her own mental health for years. Several years ago, she had a partial hysterectomy because her perimenopause symptoms were overwhelming.
The physical changes post-menopause have exacerbated her underlying mental health issues.
Programming Notes
We learned a lot during November’s episode on perimenopause and mental health. What stood out for me is that the changes to a woman’s body during perimenopause are as profound as the changes she experiences during pregnancy.
Another important point we learned is that perimenopause is the period up until a woman goes through twelve consecutive months without a period. Menopause is really just a point in time. After that, a woman is considered to be post-menopause.
One of the resources shared on our previous show was National Menopause Foundation's Menopause Checklist.
We usually host our shows live on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. We will not host a show on Thursday, December 25 because of Christmas. For January, we will host shows on January 15 and January 29 (the third and fifth Thursdays).
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
Comments