Partners are encouraged to be alert for warning signs and increase suicide rates in women who go through menopause.

The suicide rate in women over 50 years of age has risen and partners are being encouraged to be aware.

The rates of women between 45 and 54 years old have increased by six percent in the last 20 years. This is the same age group as menopause.

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The Menopause Experts Group created the statistics and is asking women to remember that symptoms like low mood, depression, anxiety, and fatigue could be related to menopause.

There are many reasons why these symptoms may occur, including hormone fluctuations that have occurred in the years prior to and after periods stopped – starting at the 40s.

Women may feel overwhelmed by other stressors, like managing childcare, caring for elderly parents, and working full-time.

HRT can be used to balance hormones for women experiencing overwhelming menopause changes.

Dee Murray, founder and CEO of the Menopause Experts Group, said: “Menopause affects every woman differently, but for many it can bring unpleasant physical, emotional and psychological symptoms that can be challenging to deal with.

“Mental health issues like depression, anxiety and stress are hard to deal with, and many women will not know that they can commonly be caused by menopause.

“Women who are not aware they are going through menopause can be caught off guard by feelings of worthlessness, confusion and a complete lack of confidence.

“We cannot ignore what is happening or let these women suffer.”

Researchers found that the highest suicide rate was among those between the ages of 45 and 54, with 7 deaths per 100,000 for 2020.

It’s 14 per cent higher than a low of 6.1 seen in 1999.

This age group is not following the general trend of decreasing suicide rates for females, with rates for the over-55s dropping 28% in the past two decades.

Menopausal women have twice the suicide rate as teenagers, 2.8 for those between 15-19.

Only 3.7 per 100,000 was the rate for 65- to 69-year olds.

Dee said: “Many women in their 60s are happier post-menopause as the body and brain adjust to new hormone levels.

“This clearly has an impact on their psychology and may partly explain why suicide rates drop off later in life.”

Samaritans data also shows that the suicide rate for women between 45 and 49 in 2020 was highest among those aged 45 to 49.

Men are more likely to end their lives at this age than at any other age. However, rates at both young and old are higher.

Menopause experts group called for doctors to learn more about menopause.

But they also: “Women going through menopause need support from friends, family and colleagues, and we would recommend that everyone takes our free training so they are ready for whatever perimenopause and menopause throw at them.”

It is a few days after a grieving husband encouraged other men to learn about menopause symptoms after his wife, aged 56, died.

David Salmon claimed that menopause was something he believed to be a. “big contribution” to his wife Linda’s poor mental health was the menopause, and Covid worries “pushed her over the edge”.

He didn’t realize that women can have suicidal thoughts after menopause. According to the BBC,Linda may have been able to get treatment by knowing the facts before.

David said, “If your situation is similar, I would recommend that you support your wife, hold on to her hand, and help her get through it.”

“You don’t want to be where I am today, nobody needs to do that.”

Central Recorder launched “Feeling Menopause” in October to increase awareness about the topic and to improve access to HRT.

Exclusive research carried out for the campaign revealed half of menopausal women suffered depression and mental health issues.

Diane Danzebrink was only inches away from taking her own lives after her menopause had pushed her to rock bottom.

After having a hysterectomy in 2012, she was thrust into a surgical women’s period. In the months that followed, she became a shell.

This was until her doctor diagnosed that her depression was caused by a drop in oestrogen. She was then treated with HRT.

Diane, 55, who launched the Menopause Support group, told Central Recorder: “The scariest thing of all is that the greatest risk of suicide amongst women is between the ages of 45 and 54 – the age of perimenopause through to post menopause for most.

“But we don’t have any research on that at all.

“Anecdotally, I’ve certainly heard from women who have said their mother committed suicice at a certain age, and now they reflect on it, they know they were going through the menopause.”

Samaritans can be reached at no cost on 116123. You may also contact other sources of support such as those listed here. NHS’s help for suicidal thoughts webpage.