Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I also thank her for the work she does on behalf of older people and in the area of mental health. It is fitting that she is here to discuss the menopause. This matter relates to older women and those who are suffering from mental health issues because of a lack of understanding and awareness and many have either been misdiagnosed or have not had the proper diagnosis. I know the Minister of State will be bring compassion and understanding to the matter. I have not previously sensed or felt as much frustration, liberation or emotion as I have in recent weeks in the context of the discussions we are starting to have with regard to the menopause.

We have had not only decades but centuries of not discussing something that 51% of our population experiences. We know that women generally live one third of their lives post menopause. The quality of that third of their lives very much depends on the support and treatments they receive during the menopause. Some 80% of women have a difficult menopause. I have read and listened to accounts of what large numbers of women have gone through, many of whom have opened up and told their stories and outlined their journeys. That has been cathartic for these women in many ways. I want to listen to all the recordings from Joe Duffy's radio show of the women telling their stories, outlining their journeys and expressing their sadness, anger and frustration at not being believed about what they were going through.There were stories of women who were put on anti-depression medication or being diagnosed with different conditions and referred to consultants and of people not understanding. It is shocking that we are having these conversations at this stage.

We want encourage and support women and, of course, men to lead healthy and fulfilling lives at every stage of their lives. We need to support women and we need to support men to understand what the women in their lives are going through. We need to support our health professionals because far too many GPs and physiotherapists do not have the proper supports or training on what they need to do to support their patients.

It has been a breath of fresh air in many ways, even when looking at some of the Facebook groups such as The Irish Menopause and My Second Spring groups. Reading and listening to these stories, I felt I had found my tribe. I could identify with and relate to all of it. The floodgates have

opened in terms of the menopause and I thank all the women who have been brave enough to share their stories.

Women are being misdiagnosed. They have been denied treatment and given incorrect treatment. We need to change that for women who will go through the menopause in future. We need to ensure they get proper treatment and we have awareness programmes in place in health and education.