RETAILER Holland and Barrett will be opening a dedicated Menopause Consultation Room in its store in Coventry to offer a safe space for customers to discuss their symptoms with a trained adviser.
These ‘Pause and Listen’ rooms will be available at city stores across the UK.
This follows research revealing that 61 per cent of women do not talk about menopause, with the same figure saying it’s because they fear being judged and treated differently.
Despite 83 per cent of women saying menopause is less of a taboo subject than ever, one in three added they have experienced a negative reaction when they spoke about the subject.
In addition, only 51 per cent said they feel comfortable speaking to family and friends about menopause.
Holland and Barrett have also partnered with TV presenter Cherry Healey to launch the menopause ‘Pause and Listen pledge’, and training will be offered to 4,000 colleagues.
The pledge asks people to unconditionally listen to and support people experiencing menopause.
And 43 per cent of women said they would feel supported if they had someone to listen to their experiences without judgement.
Fiona Sweny, Wellness Futures Science Lead at Holland & Barrett said: “There has been real progress made in recent years to bring menopause to the forefront of the conversation, thanks to the many high-profile women who have been openly speaking about their experiences in the media.
“However, while awareness has improved, there is still a big job to be done in helping women feel heard.
“We know everyone’s journey is different and while we won’t pretend to know how an individual’s experience feels, we can promise to be there to listen, support, and offer guidance and invite others to join us in this promise.”
Cherry Healey added: “Since recently being diagnosed as perimenopausal, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been supported and listened to, yet I sadly know this isn’t the same experience for so many.
“That’s why taking part in Holland & Barrett’s Pause & Listen Pledge is so important to me”.
People can sign up for the pledge by visiting https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/conditions/womens-health/menopause/pause-and-listen/ or by going into a Holland and Barratt store.
