World Menopause Day 2025
Lifestyle Medicine and Menopause
World Menopause Day takes place on 18 October each year and provides an important opportunity to raise awareness, break down stigma, and ensure people feel supported through every stage of menopause.
This year’s theme is Lifestyle Medicine – a broad approach to health that highlights how our daily habits such as diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep can make a big difference to long-term wellbeing. These lifestyle factors are especially important during and after menopause, helping to manage symptoms and improve overall quality of life.
Lifestyle Medicine and Menopause
- Diet & Nutrition: Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and including foods that support bone and heart health can help manage symptoms.
- Exercise & Movement: Regular physical activity strengthens bones, supports cardiovascular health, and boosts mood.
- Stress Management & Sleep: Techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, and healthy sleep routines can reduce stress and improve rest.
- Connection & Support: Strong social networks and supportive workplaces play a vital role in wellbeing during menopause.
Our Commitment to Supporting Staff
As part of our wider wellbeing programme for primary and social care colleagues across south east London, we have trained a network of Menopause Advocates. These colleagues are passionate about raising awareness, signposting to resources, and ensuring staff feel supported at work. They are a local point of contact if you’d like advice, information, or simply someone to talk to.
Meet Your Menopause Advocates
This year, we are pleased to publish the names of our trained menopause advocates so that staff across SEL know who they are and can reach out for support locally:
| First name | Last name | Role | Organisation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth | Keel | Programme Lead, Training Hub | Greenwich Health Ltd, SEL ICS | ruth.keel@nhs.net |
| Jennifer | Carty | Care Navigator | Bermondsey Spa Medical Centre, SEL ICS | jennifercarty@nhs.net |
| Anna | Nakamura | Professional Midwifery Advocate | Kings College Hospital, SEL ICS | Anna.nakamura1@nhs.net |
| Nancy | Anderson | Disease Prevention Nurse Specialist | Public Health, Bromley, SEL ICS | nancy.anderson@bromley.gov.uk |
| Grail | Curry | Health and Wellbeing Champion | Lambeth Together, SEL ICS | GCurry1@lambeth.gov.uk |
| Claire | Spencer | Care Coordinator | Penge Primary Care Network, SEL ICS | claire.spencer27@nhs.net |
| Tasleem | Bharwani | GP Partner | Binfield Road Surgery, SEL ICS | tasleembharwani@nhs.net |
| Ruth | Vidal-Tunkara | Senior Link Worker and Social Prescribing Development Lead | Hill, Brook and Dale PCN, SEL ICS | ruth.vidal-tunkara@nhs.net |
| Hannah | Matheson | Operations Manager | Streatham Common Practice, SEL ICS | h.matheson@nhs.net |
| Laura | Stephens | Receptionist | Northumberland Heath Medical Centre, SEL ICS | l.stephens4@nhs.net |
| Michelle | Draper | Senior Social Worker | Bexley Adult Social Care, SEL ICS | Michelle.Draper@bexley.gov.uk |
| Robert | Dorsett | Therapy Manager | High View Care Services Ltd, SEL ICS | r.dorsett@highviewcare.co.uk |
| Samantha | Ward | High View Care Services Ltd, SEL ICS | s.ward@highviewcare.co.uk | |
| Jeanette | Oshin | Senior Social Worker | London Borough of Bexley, SEL ICS | Jeanette.Oshin2@bexley.gov.uk |
| Gill | Woodcock | Nurse Practitioner | Northwood Group Practice, SEL ICS | g.woodcock@nhs.net |
| Nana | Ocran | Lead Diabetes Lifestyle Medicine Coach | North Lewisham PCN, SEL ICS | nana.ocran1@nhs.net |
| Uzo | Umemezie | Workforce Transformation Lead | SEL People Programme, SEL ICS | uzo.umemezie@nhs.net |
Upcoming Activities
To mark World Menopause Day this year:
- Wednesday 22 October, 11–12pm: We will be hosting an expert-led session exploring the theme of lifestyle medicine and how it relates to menopause. Click this link to join (Meeting ID: 323 417 761 319 1, Passcode: 6iY6Cn78)
- Local activities: Advocates and colleagues will also be running small awareness events within their own teams throughout October to continue the conversation.
Menopause is a natural life stage and something we should feel able to talk about openly. By raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another, we can help create a more understanding and inclusive workplace for all.
If you would like to know more, please reach out to your local Menopause Advocate or join one of the upcoming activities this October.