Health psychologists from University of Staffordshire have adopted a novel approach to support women going through the menopause.

A new study, published in the journal Menopause, highlights how the popular toy Playmobil can be used to understand and encourage open conversations about women’s experiences of the menopause at work.

Reports indicate that 3 in 5 women are negatively impacted at work because of menopause. Almost 900,000 women have left their jobs because of menopausal symptoms, and women continue to experience menopause-related discrimination.

Researchers will study how ocean currents and river nutrients affect deep coral ecosystems on the West Florida Shelf – one of the Gulf’s largest and least-studied habitats. Funded by the Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program, the project aims to support sustainable fisheries and conservation of these vital, little-explored habitats, which are home to economically important marine life. The research will guide science-based strategies for protecting the gulf coast’s long-term ecological and economic health.