Program aims to provide peer support during journey through menopause
Posted Aug 22, 2022 10:00:00 PM.
A new initiative is aiming to partner those experiencing menopause with peer support.
Alyssa Blais started Menopeer Canada after her natural menopause came on “fast and furious” at the age of 46.
When she started researching the transition, she was able to find some factual information, but she believes it would have been beneficial to know someone who could walk her through the experiences of hot flashes, night sweats and anxiety.
“To provide me with that needed comfort and a bit of education and support during this, what I thought, was a tumultuous time,” she told CityNews.
“I wanted to develop a program for women to connect with and empower women during their menopause journey.”
Blais's organization has partnered with Mental Health Innovations, a leader in peer support services, to launch the Menopeer Support Specialist program that will train people this fall to use their life experiences to help others.
“We're providing non-clinical emotional support during the transition. Someone to speak to, someone to share their experience, maybe provide a bit of education,” she said.
“I really believe everyone needs to understand what's happening to their body during menopause, and how they can address their concerns with their health care practitioner.”
Those accepted into the eight week program will start training online in late September.
That's followed by a practicum, 12 one-to-one individual support sessions and three peer support community practice meetings.
Blais says this fall's training program already has a wait list, but there will be another opportunity offered early next year.
