Depression caused by incontinence is real – but treatment isn’t always available

Health psychologist Dr Sula Windgassen says the prevalence of depression is as high as 60% in those with urinary incontinence. “There definitely isn’t enough support tailored for those with urinary incontinence in managing related mental health and wellbeing,” she tells Strong Women. “Most urology departments don’t have integration with psychology services. Patients are left to find support themselves – speaking with their GP or using talking therapy services.”

Now, those interventions are obviously better than suffering in silence, but the issue is that many talking therapies aren’t tailored to the specific experience of incontinence. As such, patients run the risk of feeling misunderstood.  Similarly, trauma-informed care is not always available – despite incontinence originating often in traumatic birth, cancer, illness or accidents. If you can afford it, seeking out a private therapist who specialises in medical trauma could be a good start. If you’re going through your GP, ask what resources are available for this specific kind of mental health support in your area.

It’s a total myth that incontinence is inevitable with age

Hospitals are ‘pad-happy’ with women over 65. Many enter hospital fully continent and leave dependent on pads. Despite all the evidence, leaking is accepted as an inevitable side effect of ageing; it’s a leading cause of admission to care homes. But with the right care, many older women could be more comfortable, happier and less at risk of incontinence-related complications, such as falls, which affect life expectancy. Again, it’s something we need to talk about, fight against and ensure that we have all the facts on.

Again, if you can afford it, investing in a pelvic health physio could be a great preventative measure. There are also things you can do well ahead of time to give yourself the strongest base possible (pilates, kegels etc). Fundamentally, however, many cases are linked to childbirth and other medical issues so being proactive about asking your consultant or GP about ongoing or post-treatment care is a must.

“I became an incontinence campaigner aged 30 – these are the 9 things women need to know about leaking”