Over half (58%) of women over 50 in Greater London say they’ve struggled with their mental wellbeing since reaching this age milestone, and 87% admit to hiding their struggles1.

New research from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) found that 46% avoided seeking support because they don’t want to burden others, while 23% say there is a generational tendency to keep a ‘stiff upper lip’ on mental wellbeing struggles.

However, BACP is warning of a national epidemic of silence – crucially, at the age suicide rates among women in the UK are some of the highest, according to data from the Office for National Statistics:

· 45-49 (7.9 per 100,000 – the highest age group for all women)
· 55-59 (7.5 per 100,000)
· 50-54 (6.9 per 100,000)2

In BACP’s survey of 2,000 UK women over the age of 50, of those in London that are struggling with their mental wellbeing, 60% say they suffer from a lack of sleep. Furthermore, 58% feel more anxious and overwhelmed by things that wouldn’t have affected them before, 42% have avoided social events, and 44% say they have lost their motivation or zest for life.

Some of the biggest challenges affecting the mental health of women over 50 in London include brain fog (31%), changes to their physical health (33%), navigating menopause (31%) and changes to their appearance (38%).

To highlight the challenges faced by women in midlife and how a registered therapist can help, BACP has released the No More Stiff Upper Lip Collection – a range of lipsticks, providing positive inspiration for those in need of support. The limited edition lipsticks, including Unapologetic, Resilient, Empowered and Heard have been captured ina special photoshoot with renowned British photographer, Rankin. The names of each shade have been chosen to highlight how therapy can make women in midlife feel. Women who have benefited from therapy and want to encourage others to do the same model the lipsticks, alongside campaign ambassador Lorraine Pascale, former model turned chef, who shares her own experience.

Lorraine, who lives in London, comments: “Many women over 50 feel they need to stay quiet and ‘hold it together’, when they really may be struggling. I’ve been there. Some of my friends have been there. There is a whole myriad of challenges to navigate at this age – whether that’s physical changes to our bodies, changing situations with work, or losing loved ones. 

“Yet so many women keep these feelings to themselves, often because they don’t want to be a burden or don’t know where to turn. Speaking openly about our mental health should feel as normal as talking about any other part of our wellbeing.

“Support from a registered therapist has really supported me to feel more confident and tackle challenges thrown my way.”

Londoner, Janine Mathó, who has benefitted from therapy in midlife, adds: “The reality is that for so many midlife women, the pain we carry doesn’t have just one name. It’s burnout, bereavement, family pressure, identity loss, caregiving and trauma, all at once. And we’re told to keep going when what we need is a place to stop, to soften, and to be seen. 
“I want to share my therapy journey to help more women in midlife understand that sometimes when they feel most broken, they’re actually just buried underneath all of life’s stresses and challenges.” 
Indira Chima, a BACP-accredited therapist and Coach from Hertfordshire who is supporting the campaign, says: “At this stage in life, women can find themselves with a lot to juggle. The changes and challenges of menopause often merge with other major life events; they may be at the pinnacle of their careers, or they may be facing additional caring responsibilities. But too often, women feel a responsibility to keep stresses and anxieties to themselves. We want women to know it doesn’t have to be this way – help is available.

“There are lots of different ways to access therapy – whether that’s through your NHS GP, a local charity, an employer assisted programme, or choosing a private counsellor. However, it’s important to know that anyone can call themselves a therapist, which is why you must ensure the person you’re seeing is listed on a Professional Standards Authority accredited register – such as the BACP register.

“Therapy can be life-changing. Please don’t suffer in silence.” 

Visit nomorestiffupperlip.co.uk to find out more, including the stories of those who contributed to the campaign and an interactive quiz to reflect on your mental wellbeing and find out how to access support from a registered professional.