08/06/2026
A 52‑year‑old architect from Norfolk (UK) died after experiencing severe mental health struggles linked to perimenopause symptoms.
She had brain fog, insomnia, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating, which left her fearful she would lose her career and lifestyle.
An inquest heard her mental health deteriorated rapidly, and she was treated in hospital before her death.
Her family has since called for greater awareness and support for women going through menopause‑related mental health changes.
Devastating loss, something that could have been easily prevented 😢🥺
This heartbreaking story is exactly why the work of Menopause Experts Group and our Licensed Menopause Champions matters.
The headlines focus on brain fog, but anyone who has worked closely with women navigating perimenopause knows that the reality can be far more complex. Sleep disruption, anxiety, loss of confidence, cognitive changes and a growing sense that you are somehow becoming a different person can have a profound effect on every aspect of life.
For some women, those changes arrive at a time when they are already carrying enormous responsibilities. Careers are often at their peak. Children may still need support. Ageing parents may require care. Relationships can be under pressure. The cumulative effect can leave women feeling isolated, frightened and increasingly unable to recognise themselves.
At Menopause Experts Group, we were among the first organisations to raise concerns about the increasing number of midlife women losing their lives to su***de. While su***de is not the biggest overall cause of death in this age group, the menopause years are now associated with the highest female su***de rates in the UK. These are not simply statistics. Behind every number is a daughter, mother, partner, friend, colleague or business leader whose loss leaves an immeasurable gap.
This is precisely why better understanding is needed. Our Licensed Menopause Champions come from many different backgrounds. Some are clinicians, counsellors and psychotherapists. Others work in HR, coaching, fitness, education, wellbeing, community support or business. They are united by a desire to better understand the challenges women may face and to provide informed, compassionate support when it is needed.
Champions are not there to diagnose or replace professional medical care. What they can do is recognise when somebody is struggling, create a safe space for conversation and help people access the right support at the right time. Often, a woman will speak first to someone she trusts long before she books a medical appointment. That trusted person might be a coach, a yoga instructor, a colleague, a therapist or a Menopause Champion.
Nobody can claim that one conversation will prevent a tragedy. Life is rarely that simple. Yet we know that feeling heard can be powerful. We know that understanding reduces fear. We know that knowledge helps people make informed decisions. And we know that when support is available early, outcomes are often better.
Stories like Victoria’s should never be dismissed as isolated cases. They should encourage all of us to ask whether women are receiving the understanding, information and support they need during one of the most significant transitions of their lives.
The answer, too often, is no. That is why we continue to educate, advocate and train Champions across the UK and beyond. Because every woman deserves the opportunity to navigate this stage of life with dignity, understanding and hope.
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If you are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or su***de, please seek help immediately. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123. In an emergency, call 999.
