Perimenopause and Depression: When Hormones Hijack Your Mental Health

Crystal Clark ADAA Podcast Perimenopause and Depression

In this episode, ADAA member expert and psychiatrist Dr. Crystal Clark joins host Gabe Howard to shine a light on one of the most overlooked mental health issues affecting women: the biological storm of perimenopause and its deep connection to depression and anxiety. They break down why up to 40% of women experience depression during this hormonal transition — and why so many are told to just “tough it out.”

You’ll learn the early warning signs to watch for, the science behind hormonal shifts and mental health, and why dismissing symptoms as “normal aging” could be harmful. Plus, they explore how therapy, medication, lifestyle shifts, and even hormone therapy can play a role in recovery.

Discover more resources for women and mental health and read the expert-written blog on Menopause and Mental Health: Understanding the Connection and Recommendations for Treatment.

Crystal T. Clark, MD, MSc

Dr. Crystal Clark is an internationally recognized psychiatrist in women’s mental health. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, the Associate Head of Research at Women’s College Hospital, and the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Reproductive Mental Health.

Dr. Clark specializes in mood and anxiety disorders specifically across the reproductive life span (from menstruation to peri and post menopause). Dr. Clark’s research aims to address gaps in psychiatric health care through development of identification and prevention strategies. Dr. Clark is the past president of the Marcé of North America an organization dedicated to advancing perinatal mental health care and she serves on the board of directors of Marcé International. She has been a contributor to large initiatives in the US and Canada to improve perinatal mental health in North America. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health.