Midlife Women Rock!
17th October 2021
To coincide with International Menopause Day (Oct 18th), menopause coach and researcher, Breeda Bermingham is launching her new book titled, “Midlife Women Rock, A Menopause Story for a New Generation”.
Along with providing an extensive guidebook for all women navigating their menopause years, the book challenges the decades of silence globally around this phase of women’s lives, strongly believing that stigma, shame and whisperings must be removed to ensure women reach their full potential at this time in life. A former midwife and public health nurse with a psychology degree from Waterford Institute of Technology, Breeda recently completed a masters in sociology from Maynooth University. Her masters research involved reviewing the global research to date along with in-depth interviews with 20 women in Ireland on their personal understanding and experience of menopause.
Breeda says,
“Silence, fear, embarrassment and denial were re-occurring narratives in my research and this needs to change.
I see a massive need to open up conversations because the silence around this issue is adding to symptoms and mental health issues for midlife women”.
She believes, “Women are doing each other a massive disservice in not talking to one another about this stage in life”.
“The recent announcement to establish dedicated specialist menopause clinics across the country is very welcome and demonstrates a positive shift in caring for women who need specialist medical care during their menopause years. However, the gamechanger in tackling the taboo will be the nationwide education campaign committed to by the government. Education and awareness is key and transformative, there is a voracious appetite for information, women want to understand menopause in order to take control of their health, at a time when many are starting to think about themselves, rather than everyone else”.
In 2019 Breeda founded the Midlife Women Rock Project and Cafes in Waterford where each month she delivers talks on menopause and provides women with a safe space to meet and discuss their issues and challenges whilst supporting each other. Since September 2020 the free get togethers have been taking place via Zoom with ladies joining from all over Ireland, Scotland and the U.K. She also facilitates six-week courses and coaches women privately.
Breeda’s book, the first book to be published in Ireland on Midlife women and menopause this century, will be available to purchase on Amazon and the book depository from 18th October.
