Menopause and Us
Earlier this year, esteemed New Zealand actor Robyn Malcolm sought the perspective of a leading expert working at the cutting edge of menopause and mental health research – and it brought her to The Alfred.
There, Malcolm interviewed Director of the Multidisciplinary Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, who shared her work on reproductive hormones and their effect on women’s mental health.
“It came about early in my career treating women with schizophrenia,” Prof Kulkarni said.
“I was struck by how many said, ‘I was fine until I hit menopause’, or ‘I was fine until I had children.’”
The experiences led her to research suggesting oestrogen could have a strong antipsychotic effect, which in turn led her to set up a clinical trial.
The interview aired in New Zealand as part of Malcom’s documentary Menopause and Us, which encourages Kiwi audiences to have open conversations about menopause with their loved ones and healthcare professionals.
Prof Kulkarni said she was honoured to share her expertise and research with a new overseas audience, and hopes the conversation provides assurance as well as a path forward for women encountering mental health challenges during this important life transition.
“What Robyn is doing with this documentary is extraordinary,” Prof Kulkarni said.
“She’s letting women know they are right to trust their instincts and to keep pushing to be heard in order to get the right treatment.”
