A Helpful Menopause Resource for Your Team This December

As we enter December, I want to acknowledge something many women in workplaces experience but rarely name:

For those in peri-menopause, menopause, or post-menopause, this time of year can be uniquely challenging.

Energy can fluctuate.
Sleep can become lighter.
Stress tolerance narrows.
And the combination of deadlines, year-end reviews, family responsibilities, and seasonal expectations can create a level of pressure that’s hard to see from the outside.

Many women simply push through — often without the language, support, or permissions they need.

With that in mind, In partnership with Catherine O’Keeffe (Wellness Warrior) we have created a resource that may be helpful to share with personnel:

✨ Your Menopause-Friendly Christmas Guide ✨

This guide is designed to offer practical, compassionate support to personnel navigating menopause during one of the busiest periods of the year. It also serves as a simple way to demonstrate awareness, empathy, and proactive wellbeing support. Inside, you will find:

Tools to calm the nervous system during high-pressure days

Strategies to manage overwhelm when demands peak

December non-negotiables to protect energy

Support for symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disruption, and cognitive load

Helpful scripts for boundary-setting at work and at home

Emotional check-ins

Guidance on expectations, finances, and seasonal socialising

Kinder, more realistic conversations around food

The goal is to help women feel supported, understood, and better equipped — both professionally and personally — at a time when stress levels can escalate.

Please feel free to share this directly with personnel.

A small reminder as we reach the end of the year: An Garda Síochána provides a range of free, confidential mental health and wellbeing supports to assist you throughout the festive period and beyond:

Employee Support Programme (ESP) – In partnership with Lena, this 24/7, 365 confidential helpline and counselling service provides immediate support and a proactive space to 'check in'. All personnel can access up to eight counselling sessions, including trauma-specific support. Call 1800 817 433 to speak with someone today.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Programme – Over 4,000 Garda personnel have attended MHFA workshops since 2024. Delivered by fully accredited Garda MHFA Facilitators, these workshops equip participants with practical tools to appreciate their own mental health and recognise and support mental health challenges. Workshops continue across all Divisions into 2026 — we encourage you to take part.
KOPS (Keeping Our People Safe) App – Available on all official mobility devices (and for download on personal devices), KOPS offers quick access to wellbeing advice, health and wellbeing tips, and signposting to key support services.
Psychological Support Programme (PSP) – Designed for Garda personnel working in areas or roles risk assessed as involving regular exposure to severe psychologically hazardous material by default; PSP provides mandatory confidential psychological supervision, and, if needed, access to trauma-focused counselling.
Employee Assistance Service (EAS) – A team of 17 full-time EAS Officers are available to offer non-clinical welfare and wellbeing support.
Peer Support Network – Over 1,100 trained Peer Supporters are available across the organisation to offer a listening ear and connect colleagues with the right supports.

These supports are free, confidential, and available to all Garda personnel based on individual needs — whether you need a listening ear, professional guidance, or just a moment to reflect on your own health and wellbeing after a busy year.

This festive season, please take time to check in — with yourself, a colleague, or one of the supports available.