Your Fertile Years - What You Need to Know to Make Informed Choices by Professor Joyce Harper
Your Fertile Years - What You Need to Know to Make Informed Choices by Professor Joyce Harper

Your Fertile Years

When Joyce was in her twenties she started working in the field of fertility and she often had conversations with friends about their bodies and their fertility.  At this time she read ‘Ourbody, ourselves’ and felt it was a book that every woman should read…

Your Joyful Years

In Your Joyful Years, Professor Joyce Harper provides an empowering, evidence-based guide to thriving beyond 50. Moving past the menopause, this book reframes later life as a vibrant new beginning—a time to rediscover purpose and prioritise self-care. Combining 40 years of scientific expertise with the candid wisdom of 50 inspiring women, Professor Harper offers a reassuring roadmap to health, happiness, and living authentically. This is the essential second book in her life-stage trilogy, proving that your best years are still to come.

Season 2 / Episode 10 – 15 May

Laura Spoelstra: Mental health: more than just a buzz word

In this podcast Professor Joyce Harper will be interviewing guests to discuss all things health related and debunking some of the many myths around our health.

Laura Spoelstra has been involved in the fertility sector as an expert in donation issues for almost 15 years. During that time, she was involved in various national policy working parties including the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the Nuffield Council on BioEthics and the Joint Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill.

More recently she has been focusing on wellbeing of young people and mental health. And she’s been a listening volunteer for Samaritans, a national organisation providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide. Laura is a Samaritans Branch Deputy Director, a Regional Officer and a qualified Mental Health First Aider.

Mental health is, in a sense, the same as physical health. It’s intrinsic to who we are, and it’s our ability to cope with life. A third of illnesses are caused by poor mental health as this can impact our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. And as we go through life, we face different challenges that affect our mental health. Covid caused a big spike in mental health issues. Young people are facing huge challenges for their mental health, with pressures from social media and hectic lifestyles. Suicide has increased over recent years and the data shows that men are more likely to commit suicide than women, at all ages.  But there are ways to improve your mental health, including talking to people if we have issues, but also lifestyle changes such as being outside, exercise, nutrition good sleep and friendships.  There are also several medications that can be used. The Samaritans are there ‘’Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.’  samaritans.org

Professor Joyce Harper

Podcast Episodes