Historic menopause and mental health position statement launched, informed by National Centre for Mental Health research

Posted March 20th 2026

Professor Arianna Di Florio was invited to celebrate the launch of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) first ever position statement on menopause and mental health.

The event was hosted at the House of Commons and was attended by TV presented and menopause-advocate Davina McCall MBE.

Professor Arianna Di Florio is a clinical psychiatrist and founder of the Reproductive Mental Health Clinical and Research Programme at Cardiff University. Her research, published in Nature Mental Health, was cited in the position statement as key evidence indicating an increased risk of first onsets of psychiatric disorders during the years around menopause.

Professor Di Florio said:

“It is good to see this important topic finally gaining the recognition it deserves. The Cardiff research on menopause and mental health, which has quietly underpinned much of the evidence base in this area – including at the recent House of Commons event – shows what is possible when we take women’s psychiatric health seriously.”

The position statement features the voices of women who have experienced menopause, highlighting the lack of knowledge and preparation that was frequently reported.

The statement also emphasizes the perspectives of psychiatrists, who often have insufficient education on menopause and mental health, along with recommendations to increase training and awareness.

• Read the statement
• Learn more about the Reproductive Mental Health programme research led by Professor Di Florio and take part
• Take part in the NCMH online study and help us improve treatment, diagnosis and support for mental health conditions

Images taken by Katka Photography