MPower Jamaica successfully hosted the Caribbean premiere screening of The M Factor 2: Before the Pause (Perimenopause) on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Sagicor Life Auditorium, bringing together medical experts, advocates, and members of the/ public for an evening of education, dialogue, and advocacy around women’s midlife health.

The documentary, produced by Women in the Room Productions and Take Flight Productions, reveals the hidden reality of perimenopause through the voices of women whose experiences are often dismissed or misunderstood.

From a teacher who was told her symptoms are “all in her head” to a firefighter navigating heavy periods without adequate workplace support, the film highlights systemic gaps in awareness, care, and medical training. By centring lived experiences alongside expert insight, the film makes a compelling case for early education and intervention as essential to improving women’s long term health, careers, and sense of self.

A live discussion, question and answer segment featuring Dr. Astrid Batchelor(Obstetrician-Gynaecologist and Certified Menopause Practitioner ) and Jacoba Atlas (writer-director of both The M Factor films), moderated by Elena Lynch and Sacha Chung, followed the screening of the documentary. 

The conversation explored key themes from the film, including the wide-ranging impact of hormonal fluctuations on brain health, cardiovascular health, and sexuality, as well as evolving research around hormone replacement therapy and the importance of informed decision-making.

A highlight of the evening was an update from Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer representing the Ministry of Health and Wellness, underscoring the importance of national policy, aging, and women’s health advocacy in Jamaica. She thanked the MPower team for “providing leadership” and for creating an advocacy group that has helped establish a national ecosystem to support women, ensuring that this important conversation continues. She also emphasised the critical need for education.

“The first need is education. Everywhere we have gone, people say they want more information. They cannot make decisions about their treatment without having the relevant information—and we’ve heard this even from doctors. Information sharing, both in the private and public sectors, is limited.”

She noted that, alongside her funding for dementia research, the MPower events have contributed to the work of the Ministry of Health’s Menopause Committee and helped inform policy direction, including advancing midlife research and shaping national support for Jamaican women.

“Policy needs local data,” Eldemire-Shearer explained. “We’ve done several focus groups, we’ve gone out into the public health centres, had meetings with the professionals…. It will be a total policy looking at mid-life and reproductive health. We also know that information sharing is woefully short, so we need to come up with an education plan with an education programme.”

The Ministry of Health has committed to a very thorough approach to research, commencing with interviews in rural community health centres, and she cited Claremont, St. Ann, being one of the first locations they went to.

“This is such an excellent discussion. Dr. Batchelor is such a great advocate,” shared Jacoba Atlas during her virtual remarks. “I worked with many younger women in their 30s on this project and assured them that it’s not all doom and gloom. My experience was quite positive. I do love the discussion about HRT and how effective it can be and that the 2002 study was flawed. But it’s an uphill battle to ensure doctors fully understand what HRT can do and that affects what women will accept.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Breast cancer is a distant second, though often more emotionally felt.” Reflecting on the screening, attendee Debra Lopez-Spence, Vice President Insurance Sales & Service at Scotiabank shared, “I was asked whether the film left me feeling emotional or anxious. It didn’t leave me anxious; it left me feeling empowered. It was a powerful reminder that the choices we make today around our habits, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and overall well-being will shape our future. We don’t have to become statistics. I left feeling optimistic, as it truly feels like the beginning of a national movement, especially with the work being led by Dr. Eldemire-Shearer and her team. Take action today, set an example, your future self will thank you.”

The event was hosted by MPower Jamaica, including Co-Founders and Creative Partners Leisha Wong and Elena Lynch of Elle Creative Ltd, alongside Occupational Therapist Sacha Chung and Fitness Instructor and Women’s Health Advocate Jodi Mair. Building on the global success of the original The M Factor, which screened in more than 50 countries, this second film continues to challenge the culture of silence surrounding perimenopause, a stage that can begin as early as a woman’s late 30s and significantly impact physical, emotional, and mental well-being. 

Production of the evening was done with sponsorship by Sagicor Jamaica, Phase3 Productions, YES Productions, Elle Creative, The perfect Host, Chop’d, Select Brands, Forget the Fork, M-POWA Malt beverage, WATA,Pure Country Juices, and Soup King.

Through this screening, MPower Jamaica continues its mission to educate and support women, particularly those with limited access to reliable information, so they can better understand their bodies and advocate for their long-term health.