Almost two in three women over 50 in the UK struggle with their mental health as they deal with menopause, relationship breakdowns and changes to their appearance, a survey has found. Brain fog, parents dying, children leaving home and financial pressures can also trigger difficulties such as sleeping problems, feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and a loss of zest for life.
High-achieving professionals are among the least likely groups to seek psychological or emotional support, despite facing elevated levels of stress, burnout, and health risk. Research consistently shows that individuals in high-responsibility roles delay help-seeking longer than the general population, often waiting until symptoms begin to affect health, relationships, or job performance. By the time support feels unavoidable, the personal and professional cost is often far greater than it needed to be.
I perched next to someone I knew. "You know, the only people who act like that are on drugs." I ignorantly spoke, parroting the messaging I'd been getting for a few years now. They stopped. "You know, I used to use drugs." Here was someone I respected sitting next to me, and what they said challenged everything I thought I understood.
