Experience reports: Burnout & depressive mood in the context of work

Personal stories about menopause, midlife, and women in the workplace

An interview with Dipl. Psychologist Sandra Tschöpe, menopause influencer Annunziata Schnurbein & Vodaphone press spokeswoman Dr. Ute Brambrink

Journey through the Menopause: Annunziata Schnurbein

To better understand the impact of menopause on professional life, it is helpful to look at personal accounts. Annunziata, a 41-year-old woman who has been in perimenopause for four years, shares her story. She runs the Instagram account PeriHub, where she provides information about perimenopause.

Misdiagnoses and Challenges

For Annunziata, the road to proper diagnosis and treatment was long and arduous. First, she was misdiagnosed with burnout and later with moderate depression. Neither she nor the doctors initially realized that her symptoms were related to menopause.

"Personally, these undiagnosed menopausal symptoms threw me completely off track," says Annunziata. "I was on sick leave for three months and, although I was able to go back to work, I could only do so with the help of an antidepressant. Even though the symptoms were treated, I still felt miserable."

The path to the right therapy

Only after a total of 20 visits to the doctor and an odyssey of eight to twelve months did Annunziata receive the correct diagnosis. When she was willing to cover the costs of private therapy, the cause of her symptoms was finally identified as menopause.

"I am a very good example of how the right therapy, in my case an identical hormone replacement therapy, can work overnight," says Annunziata. "After a year of unnecessary suffering, my symptoms have improved considerably thanks to the right treatment."

Openness and education as key

Annunziata's story highlights the need to remove the taboo from menopause and to talk about it openly. Many women do not know that their risk of depression increases by 40% during this phase and do not recognize the connections.

Motivated by her experiences, Annunziata founded the Instagram account "PeriHub", where she shares her experiences and educates people about the psychological symptoms of menopause. "We can benefit enormously, even if we were as miserable as I was," she emphasizes.

Perspective of a psychotherapist: Sandra Tschöpe

Sandra Tschöpe, a psychological psychotherapist specializing in women's health, examines the psychological effects of menopause from a professional perspective.

Hormonal influences on the psyche

"As perimenopause begins, the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decrease," explains Sandra. "Estrogen plays an important role in the brain and regulates memory, attention and mood. When it decreases, this protection for nerve cells is lost."

Progesterone, which has calming and anxiety-reducing effects, also drops. This hormone deficiency can lead to difficulty concentrating, mood swings and vague fears that manifest themselves in a depressive rumination cycle.

Holistic view of the life situation

Sandra emphasizes the importance of considering a woman's entire life situation. "We checked whether she really needs to carry the piano or whether she could carry the sheet music more often," she explains.

The ability to set boundaries and identify one's own needs is crucial to coping with the challenges of menopause. A therapeutic context can be helpful in developing strategies for stress management and self-care.

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Vodafone as a pioneer: Dr. Ute Brambrink

Dr. Ute Brambrink, spokeswoman at Vodafone, explains how the telecommunications company has integrated the topic of menopause into its corporate culture.

Initiatives of the parent company

The initiative came three and a half years ago from Vodafone's parent company in London. A study of female employees found that 66% of women were affected by menopause in their work, 53% wanted support and 50% still considered the topic taboo.

Educational measures

In response, Vodafone developed a toolkit with information about menopause, discussion guides and support options. In addition, e-learning courses and internal communications campaigns were launched to raise awareness.

“The time for shame is over” is the motto of a poster campaign aimed at encouraging employees to speak openly about their complaints.

Corporate culture and flexibility as key

Ute Brambrink emphasizes the importance of a respectful corporate culture and flexible working models. "If I have had a bad night's sleep, I might need two extra hours in the morning," she explains. "Or I take a three-hour break in the afternoon and am fit again in the evening." Home office options and the openness to discuss one's own situation with superiors are "priceless" for women going through the menopause.

equality and shortage of skilled workers

From Ute Brambrink’s perspective, supporting female employees during menopause is not only a question of care, but also an economic consideration.

Avoiding a shortage of skilled workers

"If we lose these women, it would be grossly negligent," she stresses. "It would be a shame to lose valuable employees just because we didn't support them during this phase." Especially in view of the shortage of skilled workers and the aging workforce, it is crucial for companies to retain and support experienced employees.

Equality and career opportunities

In addition, supporting women during menopause plays a key role in equality and career advancement. Many women reduce their working hours or forego promotions during this phase because they feel they cannot cope with the demands. Through targeted measures, companies can help women to pursue their career goals and reach their full potential even during this phase of life.

Outlook: Holistic Approaches to Mental Health

In summary, supporting employees going through menopause is an important part of promoting mental health in the workplace, but this should be part of a holistic approach that addresses different aspects of mental health. Companies should therefore develop a comprehensive mental health strategy that addresses other factors in addition to menopause, such as chronic illness, burnout prevention and work-life balance. A holistic approach that focuses on education, understanding and individual support can help employees feel valued and empowered, at all stages of life.

Ultimately, both companies and employees benefit from a culture of openness and care. By acknowledging and actively addressing the challenges of menopause, employers not only create a positive work environment, but also ensure the long-term loyalty and performance of their workforce.

Learn more about what employers can do

under link to the second part of the interview

Want to watch the panel again in full? You can do so on our  Mental Health, Menopause and the Workplace YouTube channel.

hermaid is offered as an employee benefits program to support women in menopause:

Advantages of a hermaid employee benefits program:

• Improved employee wellbeing: hermaid provides information, advice, and support on all aspects of menopause, promoting the physical and mental wellbeing of employees.
• Increased motivation and productivity: When women can better manage their menopausal symptoms, their concentration and performance increase.
• Reduced absenteeism: hermaid helps to reduce health-related absenteeism by providing women with early support and better managing their symptoms.
• Strengthening employer branding: A company that promotes the health and well-being of its employees is more attractive to potential applicants.
• Improved company culture: hermaid helps create an open and inclusive company culture where menopause can be discussed and women receive the support they need.