From Lived Experience to Policy Change
Perimenopause & Menopause Focus Groups in Prince Edward Island
Community conversations led by the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities (ASI) are bringing menopause and perimenopause out of silence and into policy discussions.
Why ASI Is Taking This On Now
The Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities (ASI) has a long history of supporting communities to address complex social and health issues. Founded in 2003, ASI began as a hub for knowledge exchange, but soon recognized a growing need to advance a policy lens — ensuring that stories from lived experience inform an investment in upstream policies and real systems change.
A life course perspective on mental health promotion and community well-being led ASI to focus on infants, children and youth – and on their caregivers – most of whom are women. Today, women make up more than 80% of ASI participants. With many entering perimenopause as early as age 41, this life stage has remained largely invisible in policy conversations despite affecting work, caregiving, and participation.
Listening First: Community Focus Groups Across PEI
Participation was strong, discussions were deeply engaged, and many sessions filled quickly following media coverage.
Summerside
Rotary Library
Charlottetown
Charlottetown Library
Montague
Lane’s Inn and Cottages
O’Leary
Willows Community Care Home
“Women are feeling empowered simply by being together and having space to talk about these experiences.”
What’s Emerging
While findings are still being analyzed, early conversations point to the wide-ranging impacts of menopause and perimenopause on vision, mobility, confidence at work, mental health, caregiving capacity, and social participation.
This is not just a health issue. It is a socio-economic and policy issue.
What Happens Next
Confidentiality respected
Themes identified (not individuals)
Insights elevated to policy discussions
Alignment with ASI’s “Health in All Policies” approach
Cross-government, cross-sector lens
Featured on CBC Island Morning
Community interest in ASI’s perimenopause and menopause focus groups surged following a CBC Island Morning interview with ASI Coordinator Patsy Beattie-Huggan, hosted by Mitch Cormier.
The conversation highlighted why menopause and perimenopause must be understood not only as health experiences, but as policy issues that affect work, caregiving, income, and community well-being.
"You have to talk to women first, then work across sectors to make change.”
About Patsy
Patsy Beattie-Huggan is Coordinator of the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities, with decades of experience in community health, policy, and knowledge mobilization.
This work builds on her commitment to ensuring that lived experience shapes systems change.
Acknowledgement of Funding Support
This project is made possible through funding support from the PEI Interministerial Women’s Secretariat, whose leadership and commitment to advancing gender equity and women’s well-being across Prince Edward Island have been instrumental in supporting this work.
Patsy Beattie-Huggan, of the Quaich
Patsy Beattie-Huggan is Coordinator of the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities and founder of The Quaich Inc., bringing decades of experience in community health, policy development, and knowledge mobilization across Atlantic Canada.
Her work focuses on connecting lived experience with systems and policy change, helping communities, organizations, and decision-makers better understand how social and economic conditions shape health and well-being.
Leading Impact Consulting Inc.
The perimenopause and menopause focus group project was developed and delivered in partnership with Lynne Lund and Trish Altass, of Leading Impact Consulting Inc., a Prince Edward Island–based consulting firm specializing in community engagement, policy development, and research-informed social change initiatives.
Leading Impact works with governments, organizations, and communities to create inclusive engagement processes and practical policy solutions that strengthen social and community well-being.