Chef Lorraine Pascale on midlife mental wellbeing

Nearly two thirds (64%) of women over 50 say they’ve struggled with their mental wellbeing since reaching this age milestone and almost nine in ten (87%) of them admit to hiding it.

The new research from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) found nearly half (46%) avoided seeking support because they don’t want to burden others, while 24% say there is a generational tendency to keep a ‘stiff upper lip’ on mental wellbeing struggles.

Now, BACP is warning of an epidemic of silence – crucially, suicide rates among midlife women are some of the highest, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Ros spoke to chef Lorraine Pascale.