AQW 51580/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 10/09/2026
Answered On Date: 02/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether any assessment has been made of the relationship between perimenopause and menopause and (i) suicidal ideation; (ii) self-harm; and (iii) suicide among women.

Answer:

Suicide is associated with poor mental health, and the impact of the menopause on mental health in general is well established. Suicide is also associated with distress, crisis and loss, all of which are common among women in the age group affected by menopause and perimenopause. The extent of poor mental health among women aged 45-64 in NI is best illustrated by the fact that almost 40% of women in this age group in Northern Ireland have an antidepressant prescription. Furthermore, misogyny, marginalisation and the disproportionate burden of caring responsibilities that women face invariably increases the stress and pressure among women.

The Assembly All-Party Group on Mental Health inquiry, The Impact of Menopause on Mental Health surveyed 486 women across Northern Ireland between November 2024 and March 2025. It found substantial mental-health effects: 62.6% reported a significant or high impact, with anxiety and insomnia each reported by 83% and brain fog by 88%. It also identified socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in impact and help-seeking.

Specific data on self-harm and suicide regarding perimenopause and menopause is not collected in Northern Ireland.