When Henpicked began in 2013, it started with conversations. Women sharing experiences. Asking questions. Realising they weren’t alone.

For more than a decade, our community has heard the same themes time and again. Confusion about symptoms. Confidence knocked. Struggles at work. Not knowing how to start conversations. Worry about being judged. Relief when someone finally understands.

That’s why this new project feels so special to us.

Through funding from the Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards, we have supported the creation of Navigating Menopause in the Workplace — a powerful comic that brings research and lived experience together in a way that feels real, relatable and human.

And when you read Melanie’s story, you may recognise parts of your own.

The stories we hear every day

Since 2013, Henpicked.net has been a trusted space for individuals looking for clear information, reassurance and understanding. Over the years, thousands of women have shared how menopause symptoms have affected their working lives.

They describe brain fog before an important meeting. Hot flushes in uniforms that don’t feel forgiving. Sleepless nights before a busy day. The hesitation before telling a manager. The internal questioning “Is it just me?” The relief when someone listens and takes it seriously.

Melanie’s journey reflects so many of those experiences. She begins by not fully understanding what is happening to her body. She worries about her performance. She doubts herself. Eventually, she seeks support and helps create a more open workplace.

It is a story rooted in research but shaped by real voices.

Why a comic?

There is no shortage of information about menopause these days. But information alone doesn’t always help us feel seen.

A comic allows you to step into someone else’s world. It captures emotion as well as fact. It shows the small moments, the awkward conversations, the quiet worries, the practical adjustments that don’t always appear in formal reports.

As Professor Christopher Murray explains: “The power of the comics medium is the combination of word and image. Comics have a universal appeal, but they’re often misunderstood in the Anglo-American context as just for children and limited to genres like humour or superheroes. In reality, comics are a sophisticated medium that can layer nuance and complexity into storytelling, making them particularly effective for capturing lived experience.

“Readers absorb this almost intuitively, comics pose questions, involve a degree of problem-solving, and inspire interaction and discussion. This is one reason why autobiographical and healthcare comics have been so successful and are so powerful and appropriate for a subject like menopause.”

For many people, seeing an experience illustrated makes it easier to talk about. It gives language to feelings. It reassures you that what you’re experiencing is real and valid.

Grounded in research, shaped by community

Navigating Menopause in the Workplace was developed by postgraduate researcher Chithramali Rodrigo from the University of Aberdeen as part of her PhD research into supporting women experiencing menopause at work.

It builds on the growing body of evidence about menopause and work — including research we have supported over the years — and translates that insight into something accessible and practical.

Deborah Garlick, Founder of Henpicked: “For over a decade, we’ve been on a mission to raise awareness of menopause and make sure those who need support can access it at work. We know people absorb information in different ways, and bringing lived experience and research together in a visual format like this makes the learning more immediate, relatable and memorable. We hope it helps build empathy, spark open conversations and support real, lasting change in workplaces.”

That mission began here — in this community.

Available free to everyone

Thanks to funding from the Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards, and the commitment of our sponsors, this comic is available free to everyone. Add in sponsors.

You can read it yourself, share it with someone close to you, or pass it on to your workplace. Sometimes the hardest part is starting the conversation. A story like Melanie’s can make that first step feel easier.

If parts of her journey feel familiar, that’s because they are. They reflect the stories we have been hearing since 2013.

Henpicked exists to make sure you are not navigating this alone. This comic is another way of saying: your experience matters, your voice matters, and together we are changing the conversation.

Credits

Navigating Menopause in the Workplace was developed by Chithramali Rodrigo from the University of Aberdeen as part of her PhD research.

The comic is written by Chithramali Rodrigo and Professor Christopher Murray, Chair of Comics Studies and Director of the Comics Studies Creative Research Hub at the University of Dundee.

Artwork has been created by comics artists Katy Stone and Phillip Vaughan.

The research underpinning the comic is rooted in work from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Psychology, with contributions from Linda Engels, Dr Jacqui Hutchison, Professor Louise Phillips and Dr Claire Robertson. Stuart Hall, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner at the University of Aberdeen, also contributed, alongside Atiyah Kamran, Consultant Gynaecologist and Menopause Specialist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian.

The project was funded by Henpicked through the Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards 2025, with Deborah Garlick and Sally Leech from Henpicked supporting its development.

The comic is published by UniVerse Comics and Henpicked and is available free of charge to everyone.