Holland & Barrett strengthens menopause support for ethnic minorities

Holland & Barrett has launched several new initiatives to make information and support about menopause more inclusive, offering more diverse and personalised advice in-store and online. 

As part of its Every Menopause Matters campaign, the health and beauty retailer has introduced a free, multi-language menopause online consultation service.

The service allows trained Holland & Barrett menopause advisors to offer guidance and symptom support in multiple languages, starting with Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Punjabi.

Customers can also find menopause content online in different languages, and in a pilot, its ad campaign will be translated in Hindi to reach and support a wider community of women for whom language may be a barrier.

Cross-cultural research shows a person’s race and cultural background may impact how a woman may feel about menopause, the severity of their symptoms, when the symptoms might start, and even how long they will last.

Recognising the need for a more tailored approach, all 4,000 Holland & Barrett colleagues have also had extended training to help better advise on menopause symptoms and solutions.

In addition, Holland & Barrett has partnered with women’s health charity Wellbeing of Women to launch ‘The Women’s Health Community Fund’.

The fund will provide resources to individuals and groups in under-served communities with a specific focus on those from lower income families, ethnically diverse communities, those with disabilities and LGBTQ+, to raise awareness and provide information on menopause in the way that best reaches and serves the needs of their community.

Lina Chan, Director of Women’s Health at Holland & Barrett, said: “We have long supported women’s wellness and while a lot of work has taken place to break the taboo surrounding menopause, our customers have told us there’s still much more to do to represent every woman’s experience.

"That’s why we’ve worked with our colleagues, and leading campaigners such as Menopause Mandate and Wellbeing of Women to look at simple ways we can help all women to be heard and supported, both through H&B and out in the communities we serve.

"We know there is more to do to make the menopause conversation truly inclusive of all experiences, and this is our next step on that journey.”