Menopause and Mind focus on raising awareness of the impact of menopause on mental health, and provide support for people experiencing menopause-related mental health struggles. Our focus is on well-being, transformation and connection. We explore creative approaches to mental well-being and practices of collective care. Come and join us for an inclusive space of fun, friendship and creativity that will allow you time out to process, reflect and transform!
Menopause and Mind - Seafront Walk, Chat and Filming Session
Join us on a gentle walk along the seafront to meet new people who are experiencing the menopause transition, you will be welcome or chat or simply be in the moment! Find joy in noticing the sounds, sights and smells around us. This simple act of noticing can help reduce stress. Just like being in ‘green spaces’ being in ‘blue spaces’ where you can see bodies of water such as the sea and coastline is good for body and mind.
This session is a bit different as we are linking in with the My Cinema Clinic project, which is a chance to show the diverse experiences of menopause. We will have documentary filmmakers Lily Murray and Isabelle Fauchet with us, looking to capture some diverse shapes of menopausal solidarity on film. Please note that this is a very informal relaxed video session, where the camera will not be recording during all of the walk, leaving plenty of space for those that do not want to be filmed. This is also a documentary about diversity and inclusivity and anybody and everybody affected by menopause is welcome, no matter what gender or identity.
You do not have to be on camera, you don’t have to talk if you don’t feel inclined, but you will get a chance to hear more about their project, and how they are collecting stories to try and tell a more diverse story about the menopause experience.
Accessibility: The terrain is flat. It will be a gentle pace and there will be some seats along the way if people need to stop. We will meet by the Peace Statue in Hove and walk further into Hove, the whole walk will take 45 mins - 1 hour.
We then have a table booked at The Brunswick in Hove near our starting point, which is an accessible venue (with a ground floor accessible toilet). It serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and has a pizza kitchen which caters for both vegan and gluten free needs if people want to buy food at the end of the walk. We will try to make the event as accessible as possible but as always there are limitations so if you have any queries please contact as at menoandmind@gmail.com
About Menopause and Mind
Menopause and Mind focus on raising awareness of the impact of menopause on mental health, and provide support for people experiencing menopause-related mental health struggles. Our focus is on well-being, transformation and connection. We explore creative approaches to mental well-being and practices of collective care. In this workshop, we will work with collage to explore share, and connect with others about our feelings around menopause and the climacteric. Our spaces are intergenerational so if you are menopause-curious or not sure if you have started peri-menopause yet, or want to reflect on your experiences post-menopause you are still welcome to join us, to learn and share.
Inclusivity
We recognise that the mainstream narrative of menopause does not include everyone and discriminates and excludes many marginalised voices, including (not exhaustively) LGBTQIA+, trans voices, minority ethnic voices and neuro and physical diverse groups. We also recognise the negative impact that adverse childhood experiences have during menopause and that menopause happens at many ages, and impacts on those experiencing POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) and surgical menopause can be particularly challenging. There is a lack of information of the impact of other conditions, such as endometriosis, on menopause due to a lack of high-quality research. Menopause and Mind embrace menodiversity and welcome any person experiencing menopausal symptoms from any background. We are open to feedback to improve our sessions, and to ensure that we are using inclusive language and approaches.
We support the aims of the Menopause Inclusion Collective and are a trans-positive organisation.
Blog - https://menoandmind.org/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/menoandmind
