The menopause cafes supporting women across Liverpool

A woman from Huyton says it's her mission to create an army of women supporting women, as calls grow for better support during menopause.

Juanita Steel is a holistic menopause health and fitness coach and is running several menopause cafes across Liverpool, with the aim of providing a safe space for menopausal women to share their symptoms and experiences.

It comes as new research on World Menopause Day reveals nearly half of women over 45 would not feel comfortable discussing menopausal symptoms with a line manager, and 61% agree that the term 'menopausal' is often still used in a derogatory manner.

Juanita says her experience of entering menopause sprung her into action: "I was surgically menopaused nearly 7 years ago and there was no support whatsoever, especially in the community. Because I didn't get that support, I wondered how many other women weren't getting the support that they needed."

The Menopause Empowerment Cafes are operating from the Millennium Centre in West Derby, Roby Community Centre in Huyton and the Everyman Theatre on Hope Street in Liverpool. Juanita has also been instrumental in setting up supportive resources for staff at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, as well as residents and staff at Cobalt Housing in Croxteth Park.

"What I wanted to give women was a listening ear so that they know they're not going insane. Especially women who are working who start to get menopausal symptoms and feel like they can't do their job anymore.

"It's an empowerment café, it's somewhere that women can come to laugh, cry, get support and advice. It's quite sad that women just feel that they have to get on with it, like everything that we do. So I'm happy that it's being highlighted and more women are coming out and talking about it. As a result, they're staying in the workplace and they're staying in relationships because partners, managers, friends and kids are more understanding, which is essential."

In recent years there has been growing awareness of menopause and increasingly women are being encouraged to open up about issues and discuss the changes and side effects which they experience.

Juanita said, "So many women who've come through my café have been suicidal. They've had dark thoughts, feeling like they're not worthy and they don't want to be here anymore because the struggle is exasperating. They're suffering from fatigue, brain fog, lack of libido, relationship problems. Joint pain, muscle fatigue, muscle atrophy, it goes on and on. So I can understand why a lot of women's mental health is on the floor."

Juanita's ultimate goal is to see the model she's rolled out in Liverpool replicated across England, "I can't be in every location so I would love for women to approach me in all areas of the country to ask how they can set up a menopause café. You don’t need a qualification like I've got, you can just come together as a support system. It's just women supporting women."

As well as the menopause cafes, Juanita also runs 'Menomove' Pilates classes at The Gate community centre in Page Moss and Prescot Town Hall.

Tonight, John Lewis in Liverpool One will host a menopause event, featuring informative talks about navigating menopause from 6pm-7.45pm.

Juanita's e-book 'Menopause Makeover Method' is available on her website. You can also join her Menopause Empowerment Group on Facebook.

• Menopause