Women’s Mental Health

We understand the pressures you face

Women can experience mental health challenges for many different reasons and at different stages of life. Hormonal changes, life transitions, and social pressures can all affect emotional wellbeing. You may notice changes in your mood, sleep, confidence or ability to cope. Things that once felt manageable can begin to feel overwhelming.

The following experiences can sometimes affect how you’re feeling and contribute to anxiety, stress or low mood:

• Pregnancy, postnatal changes and menopause
• Relationship difficulties
• Experiences of trauma or abuse
• Low self-esteem and body image concerns
• Balancing caring responsibilities and work pressures

Everyone’s experience is different. You might feel constantly worried, tearful, irritable, exhausted or disconnected from the things you usually enjoy. If these challenges are affecting your everyday life, support is available.

You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable, if your mental health is affecting your work, relationships, or daily routine, it’s okay to ask for help.

Mental health support during pregnancy and after birth (perinatal support)

Pregnancy and motherhood can be joyful, but they can also be overwhelming, exhausting, and emotionally challenging. Many women feel scared, anxious, or low during this time — even if they’ve never struggled with their mental health before.

You are not alone, and you are not a bad mother.

The perinatal period (pregnancy and the months after birth) involves enormous physical, emotional, and psychological change. You deserve understanding, compassion, and support.

At NHS Talking Therapies, we offer evidence based treatments delivered by trained professionals. Our Perinatal Priority Service provides quicker access to focused support during this important time.

We can help with:

• Low mood, sadness, or tearfulness
• Anxiety, worry, or panic attacks
• Sleep difficulties
• Negative thoughts about yourself or your parenting
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Traumatic or distressing birth experiences

Support for women experiencing menopause

Talking therapies can be highly beneficial during perimenopause and menopause, particularly if you’re experiencing emotional, psychological, or relational challenges.

Alongside physical symptoms such as hot flushes and sleep problems, menopause can affect mental health — including mood swings, anxiety, low mood, irritability, brain fog, and changes in confidence or identity.

Whether you’re experiencing menopause naturally, earlier than expected, or due to surgery or health conditions, this can be a deeply challenging time.

If you’re feeling anxious, irritable, foggy, or “not like yourself”, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it. Support is available, and you deserve to feel heard.

Mental health support for older women

Getting older is often described as a time of wisdom and freedom, and for many women, it is. But it can also bring emotional challenges, including loss, health concerns, loneliness, changes in identity, or adjusting to new life roles.

Whether you’re in your 50s, 60s, 70s, or beyond, your mental health matters just as much as your physical health.

You are not “too old” to struggle. You are not “too old” to heal, and you are absolutely not too old to ask for support.

We can support you at NHS Talking Therapies, and if you’re waiting to begin treatment, there’s additional help through our partnership with Age UK.

If you’re aged 55 or over and on our waiting list, you can receive regular weekly phone calls from Age UK with friendly conversations to help you feel connected and supported while you wait.

The importance of talking

Many women feel pressure to “keep going” and put others first. You might feel guilty for struggling, minimise how you’re feeling, or worry about being judged or not taken seriously.

Reaching out is not a weakness — it’s a positive step toward feeling better. Talking therapies provide a safe, supportive space to understand what you’re experiencing and learn practical  tools to manage anxiety, low mood and stress.

Our therapies are evidence based and focused on helping you develop skills and strategies that you can use in everyday life.

Small steps can make a meaningful difference, and we’re here to support you at a pace that feels right.