Wellbeing of Women

🩸 Our “Just a Period” campaign has launched! Millions of women and girls suffer with severe period pain or heavy bleeding, yet many are dismissed and don't get the treatment and support they need. Watch the video to learn about the devastating affect that debilitating periods - often a sign of a gynaecological condition - can have on women. Our campaign will help to tackle these issues and make sure everyone gets information about medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment they may need. Find out more and how you can get involved ⤵️ https://ow.ly/Hykz50PLiKk Together, let's make sure our periods don't hold us back. #JustAPeriod #WomensHealth #Period #Endometriosis #Adenomyosis #PCOS #HeavyBleeding #PeriodPain #SeverePain

I was on Zoladex injections for seven months; my consultant told me I would have menopause symptoms, but I don't think I really understood to what degree that would be. In hindsight, I can see how it really impacted my behaviour and how I felt within myself. I would become fixated on arguments that I had with my partner years ago that had been fully resolved but I couldn’t get them out of my mind and I would bring them up. I realised I was being unfair, and I said ‘I love you but I can’t be around you.’ All of these feelings were super intense because I couldn’t have HRT – it would render the Zoladex ineffective. I felt like I was losing my sense of self. I could be quite rude to the people that I love, or I'd start crying for no reason. But in my head it was a completely rational thing and I was being, you know, a really sensible individual. My hair was also falling out in droves and that, for me, was really stressful. I have quite thin hair so to see it coming out in clumps in the shower affected my self-esteem. I also started to forget what I was saying mid-sentence. That was really difficult, particularly with work. I work in technology which is a male dominated field and I guide people through problems and explain how they can solve them. Thankfully, I explained to my team what would happen to me, and my manager was fantastic. I definitely had days where I couldn’t cope and take mental health days and he was brilliant. He had family who had gone through similar. I recognise now that these symptoms were all due to the menopause and the sudden loss of oestrogen in my body, but at the time I felt really overwhelmed and not in control of myself at all. Learn more about the symptoms of menopause and how workplaces can support women experiencing menopause here: https://ow.ly/UfHw50TCmvI #MenopauseAwarenessMonth #WomensHealth

As a member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), we join the call to further invest in Maternal Mental Health Services, end the postcode lottery and provide vital support to all women, babies, and families. It’s time to act: https://lnkd.in/e9cj7wn7 #MakeAllCareCount

'We don't think there is anything wrong with her - she is a middle child and this is all likely for attention, so she should see a psychiatrist.” The above statement was told to Emma Codd’s (of Deloitte) parents when she was younger and in agony struggling with debilitating endometriosis symptoms. Sadly, when she was eventually diagnosed, she was found to have grade 4 endometriosis with several complications. This is why women’s and gynaecological health conversations need to be at the forefront and actionable changes made to improve outcomes and change the narrative! (As a middle child, my blood boiled hearing this comment!) I was doubly honoured to attend and speak at the incredible and much needed Helen Tomlinson’s NTTSB (No Time To Step Back) event hosted by BT Group organised by the amazing Caroline Southall and team. It was a truly empowering day with esteemed speakers and passionate attendees with similar hopes and drives. It was heartening to hear all the positive strides that businesses like BT and Holland & Barrett’s are taking to improve women’s health experience in the workplace from powerhouses that are Fiona Vines and Clare Stafford respectively. It was wonderful to learn from and listen to impassioned talks from the wonderful Susan Gee , Aaron Kinghorn and to be thoroughly entertained by the genius that is Zeph Churchill. Lovely to see and make new connections - Amantha King Nadira Awal Anna Allerton Arun Bardhan Caren Launus-Gamble Niamh D'Arcy Rose Thomas CMgr FCMI Rob Molloy Frances Hunter Vicki Hodges. My talk was on menstrual health - an overview. As always, I brought my trusted props, started with the basics - anatomy and the menstrual cycle and delved into the common gynaecological conditions. What made the talk most powerful is how engaged everyone was in the audience - everyone so eager to learn/unlearn/share. I was really blown away and I am grateful for the opportunity to share this information with colleagues, allies, leaders and friends. Thank you Janet Lindsay for the invitation. Proud Wellbeing of Women ambassador here! There is still much work to be done to make women’s and gynaecological health more equitable - stories like Emma Codd’s powerful testimonial still happen today, In 2024!!!! So like I always say, if you have learnt something, share it with someone else, who will share it with someone else and we will build a ripple effect of knowledge so no one has to endure pain like this or feel dismissed, so no one will ever suffer in silence - there is literally no time to step back. Well done again to all of the organising team. Looking forward to the next event with hopefully more positive changes implemented. ♥️

Wow what an amazing night at the #WESAwards2024 Huge congratulations to all the winners on the night. Thank you once again to our sponsors - we could not do this without you. The inspiration and emotion in the room was incredible. Seeing all those women-led businesses, the conversations, connections, and energy was truly wonderful. Thank you our hilarious and talented guest speaker - Sheila Flavell CBE And also to our charity partner Wellbeing of Women and their speaker Lucy Whitaker who shared the great work they do for women, girls and babies. We hold these awards so we can highlight the success and achievements of Scotland's women-led businesses. We understood the assignment! Sponsors: HFL Holistic Financial Leadership N4 Partners Business Gateway Muckle Media - a certified B-Corp Scottish Enterprise QUICKBLOCK®

We're hiring! We are looking for a Philanthropy Executive officer, to bring their energy and passion to join our fundraising team as we embark on an ambitious new era for the charity. Find our more: https://ow.ly/383k50TCbt6 #WomensHealth #CharityJobs

October is #MenopauseAwarenessMonth. Along with our partners Bupa Business UK and BSI we’re calling for employers to sign the Menopause Workplace Pledge and commit to becoming menopause positive employers. The Menopause Workplace Pledge campaign is changing the way that employers support women going through the menopause. It recognises the challenges many women face at work while going through the menopause, and helps employers to support them. SME employers face particular challenges in supporting women at this life stage. We've launched a brand new toolkit of resources tailored to enable SME's to be menopause positive workplaces. Since 2021, over 3000 organisations from the private and public sector have committed to the Menopause Workplace Pledge and becoming menopause positive employers. Join them! Sign the pledge today: https://ow.ly/o5Vh50TCmTM #MenopauseWorkplacePledge #Menopause

Welcome to Always Raising, powered by the Women's Health Innovation Series! 🚀 This morning, we've been privileged to hear from leading experts! We kicked off with a warm welcome from Aahuti Rai, followed by thought-provoking remarks from Dame Lesley Regan, Chair, Wellbeing of Women on the future of women's health. And to top it off, Marie Busson from McKinsey & Company gave us a captivating keynote on the current state of the industry. Stay tuned for more updates as the day unfolds! #AlwaysRaising #WHIS #WomensHealth

**Menopause Advocacy: A Catalyst for Change in Women's Health** As we enter October, World Menopause Awareness Month, I’m reflecting on our progress since 2017, and it’s incredible to see how menopause campaigning has evolved into a powerful force for change in women's health. This momentum wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of many advocates. Through educational webinars, impactful media narratives, and courageous women sharing their experiences, we’ve sparked public interest that has resonated at the political level. We've witnessed historic developments, such as the introduction of the Women’s Health Strategy for England and the appointment of a Women’s Health Minister, both of which signal a brighter future for women's health advocacy. As a research charity, Wellbeing of Women are proud to have funded some of the first research into menopause interventions in the workplace. This laid the groundwork for our Menopause Workplace Pledge, launched in 2021, an initiative that has transformed how organisations support women navigating menopause. Today, I’m proud to share that over 3,000 organisations, including industry leaders like the BBC, Tesco, and Royal Mail—have signed on, creating inclusive environments that benefit millions of employees. However, we still have much work to do. Despite these advancements, 67% of women experiencing menopausal symptoms report a negative impact on their work life, and alarmingly, 17% have contemplated leaving their jobs due to inadequate support.  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face unique challenges in addressing these issues, which is why I’m excited to announce our upcoming webinar on October 9th, from 11 AM to 12 PM. Join us as we explore the obstacles SMEs encounter and share innovative solutions to support women during this pivotal life stage. Our expert panel including lorraine candy, Helen Tomlinson, Jessica C., Madhu Kapoor, Trudy Mackie, Jane Packer and Duncan Jones will bring valuable insights and personal experiences to the conversation.   You can sign up for your free place here: https://lnkd.in/eMP-4gXn   #Menopause #WomensHealth #MenopauseAwareness #MenopauseWorkplacePledge #MenopauseAwarenessMonth

Last week our Co-Director of Fundraising, Laura, our "Just a Period" Campaign Ambassador, Tanya Simon-Hall and Dr Bill Laughey from Reckitt, presented at Tesco HQ to raise awareness Nurofen’s 'See My Pain' campaign to close the gender pain gap. Wellbeing of Women is proud to partner with Nurofen and Tesco who have raised funds in stores throughout the UK to support 'Just A Period' as part of their commitment to close the gender pain gap. We’re also excited to soon announce a much-needed new research project in partnership with Nurofen to improve adolescents’ experience of periods. #JustAPeriod #GenderPainGap