This hub brings together essential resources for UK professionals working in perinatal mental health. You can see our top resources below, or search our larger library to find links to the latest reports, guidance, online training, toolkits, case studies and more…
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A sound investment: Increasing access to treatment for women with common maternal mental health problems
Commissioned by the MMHA, this policy briefing summarises the latest maternal mental health-related economic research from LSE and the case for action. It explores the current policy context for perinatal mental health care and how the case for investment can be implemented in practice.
Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance CG192
NICE guideline covers recognising, assessing and treating mental health problems in women who are planning to have a baby, or during the perinatal period. NICE guidance is officially England-only but useful to those working in the devolved nations.
Better Health Briefing: The Maternal Mental Health of Migrant Women
This paper explores female migration to the UK; investigates evidence about low take-up of maternal mental health related services, and considers how providers can develop services which meet their needs.
Briefing: Perinatal Mental Health and Domestic Abuse
This briefing contains key learning points that emerged from MMHA's domestic abuse and perinatal mental health roundtable in November 2022. Our aim is to take stock of what we know about the intersection of perinatal mental health and domestic abuse, including highlighting gaps in practice, policy and research.
CCQI Standards for Community Perinatal Mental Health Services, 5th Ed
Best practice standards for community perinatal mental health teams, created by the UK Quality Network for Perinatal Mental Health Services.
CCQI Standards for Inpatient Perinatal Mental Health Services, 7th Ed
Best practice standards for Mother and Baby Units in the UK, created by the Quality Network for Perinatal Mental Health Services.
Everyone’s Business Mother and Baby Unit Map
Map by MMHA showing accredited mother and baby units in the UK as of 2021, including address details.
Fathers Reaching Out – Why Dads Matter: 10 years of findings on the importance of fathers’ mental health in the perinatal period
A summary of 10 years of findings on the importance of fathers’ mental health in the perinatal period and recommendations for changes in policy and healthcare.
Five Year Forward View Implementation Plan
Provides plan for implementation of recommendations from Five Year Forward View for Mental Health for the NHS – intended to lay out a blueprint for their delivery up to 2020/21.
From Bumps to Babies: Perinatal Mental Health Care in Wales
A report by the NSPCC in partnership with other organisations in Wales, exploring perinatal mental health provision and how this care is being experienced by women and their partners, and making recommendations for improvement.
Guidance for Commissioners of Perinatal Mental Health Services Vol 2
This guidance has been written for commissioners of perinatal mental health services in England, to assist specialised commissioners, as well as Clinical Commissioning Groups and Health and Wellbeing Boards.
Map of Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams (UK)
Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Services: UK
Maternal Mental Health Alliance Pathway Assessment Tool
The Pathway Assessment Tool, created by the Mums and Babies in Mind project, helps local partners rate their local services and pathways against national standards and best practice to identify strengths and gaps where more work is needed.
Maternal mental health during a pandemic
A rapid evidence review of Covid-19's impact on maternal mental health and the services that support women and families in the perinatal period.
Perinatal Mental Health Services: Recommendations for the provision of services for childbearing women (CR232)
This report summarises the latest evidence base for the extent and impact of perinatal mental disorder and opportunities for intervention. It sets out: best practice principles, guidance on effective interventions, and workforce recommendations.
Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit
A toolkit created by the RCGP to assist members of the primary care team to deliver the highest quality care to women with mental health problems, plus additional learning for individual practitioners.
Racial disparities in women’s healthcare
The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists released this policy position statement to mark International Woman’s Day 2020.
Rare Jewels Specialised parent-infant relationship teams in the UK
This report explains what specialised parent-infant relationship teams are, and why they matter. It contains the most up-to-date analysis of provision across the four nations of the UK.
Specialist Health Visitors in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health: What they do and why they matter
Report by Health Education England explaining what Specialist Health Visitors (PIMH) do, how they support the vital work of the wider health visitor workforce and why such posts are needed within all health visiting services.
Specialist Mental Health Midwives: What they do and why they matter
Report outlining the role of Specialist Mental Health Midwives in perinatal mental health care, identifying gaps in service help maternity managers and commissioners strengthen these roles in their areas.
Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Community Service Toolkit
A set of 17 documents (eg. job descriptions, letters, referral forms) from existing perinatal mental health teams in Hampshire, Berkshire and Devon. Providing ideas and inspiration for anyone setting up or running a specialist community service.
The costs of perinatal mental health problems
Independent report by LSE and Centre for Mental Health to document the economic costs of perinatal mental illness for UK society. Commissioned by theMMHA's Everyone's Business campaign.
The economic case for increasing access to treatment for women with common mental health problems during the perinatal period
Commissioned by the MMHA, this independent report presents evidence on the costs and economic consequences of different service options, focusing on evidence-based low-intensity treatment, if unmet common mental health problems are addressed within routine health services provided to women during the perinatal period.
The Perinatal Peer Support Principles
The Perinatal Peer Support Principles are a set of five values designed to give peer supporters the confidence to create and deliver peer support that meets the needs of women and families affected by mental health problems during pregnancy or the postnatal period.
Time for action on perinatal mental health care in Northern Ireland
This report sets out the findings of a study exploring health visitors’ and midwives’ roles and experiences of identifying and responding to perinatal mental illness in Northern Ireland.
1001 Critical Days Manifesto
A cross-party manifesto that sets out a vision for services in the UK for the early years period, and puts forward the moral, social and economic case for the importance of the conception to age 2 period.
5 steps for healthcare professionals
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and Five X More developed five actions for healthcare professionals to adopt that will help drive change, change attitudes and put an end to maternal health disparities in the UK.
6 steps for mothers and birthing people
Five X More developed six tips for black and brown women to support self-advocacy during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. These tips apply just as well to mental as well as physical health.
A Quick Guide to conception to age 2: the Age of Opportunity
A report that consolidates and translates the best available scientific research and international evidence on the earliest years, and makes recommendations for policy and practice. Produced with the Department for Education in England.
Action on Postpartum Psychosis Personal Experience films
A collection of personal stories, poetry, art & videos created by women who have experienced postpartum psychosis or their families, to help others to understand their lived experience of this condition.
Antenatal and postnatal mental health Quality Standard QS115
This NICE quality standard covers recognising, assessing and treating mental health problems in women planning a pregnancy or in the perinatal period. Also covers the organisation of mental health services.
Antenatal and postnatal mental health: summary of updated NICE guidance
A British Medical Journal (BMJ) summary of the NICE perinatal mental health guidelines highlighting important recommendations for clinicians.
Antipsychotics in pregnancy and breastfeeding
This resource may be helpful if you are taking an antipsychotic medication – or need to start it - and you:
- Want to get pregnant
- Are already pregnant
- Want to breastfeed.Babies Can’t Wait
A presentation from the 2017 MMHA conference about the development of an integrated perinatal and infant mental health pathway in Tameside and Glossop using the THRIVE model.
Babies in Lockdown: listening to parents to build back better
Lockdown has been a seismic shock for every family and community. Sadly, the voices of the hardest hit have been heard the least. This report sets about to change this by exploring pandemic and lockdown reflections from a diverse group of expectant and new parents during the critical first months and years of their babies’ development.
Babies in Mind: Why the Parents’ Mind Matters
Online training that introduces evidence about the factors that influences a child’s developing mind from conception through infancy - focussing specifically on the importance of parents' minds.
Baby scenarios
This list of scenarios – described from a baby’s point of view – is a discussion tool to help you to review the services that exist in your area for women with perinatal mental illness and their families, and whether services are equipped to identify risks and issues when they arise. It was created by the Mums and Babies in Mind project.
Barnet Perinatal Mental Health Pathway
An example of a local perinatal mental health pathway document. A needs-based integrated perinatal mental health pathway was co-produced by partners in Barnet. This guidance provides details for each pathway for local professionals.
Bereavement Following Pregnancy Loss and the Death of a Baby
An online resource to provide additional in-depth learning around bereavement in maternity care. It is particularly relevant to midwives, neonatal nurses, obstetricians, paediatricians, health visitors, maternity support workers and students.
Beyond Peer Support: Twitter and Perinatal Mental Health
A blog post written by Laura Wood for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project about her story of perinatal mental illness, and how online peer support has helped her and others.
Birth Charter for Women in Prison in England and Wales
The Birth Charter is a set of recommendations for the care of pregnant women and new mothers in prison, developed in consultation with service users and with guidance from the Royal College of Midwives and UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.
Bradford District Care Foundation Trust: Improving Perinatal Mental Health Practice
A local example from the NICE shared learning database. This perinatal mental health project aimed to improve practice across universal and the mental health stepped care model by embedding NICE recommendations .
Breakdown or Breakthrough
This series of 5 short films shows help professionals to develop a greater understanding of perinatal and infant mental health and how to work with parents and babies who are at risk of emotional harm.
Breaking the cycle
A presentation from the 2017 MMHA conference about using a video feedback intervention to prevent the intergenerational transmission of trauma.
Building Better Perinatal Mental Health Services
A short film produced by the London Strategic Clinical Network bringing to life the experiences of women with perinatal mental illness and the work of professionals who support them.
Caring for Women with Mental Health Problems: Standards and Competency Framework for Midwives
A document setting out the role, standards and competencies expected of all post registration midwives in the UK around maternal mental health, and of midwives specialising in maternal mental health.
CCQI Service Standards for Mother and Baby Units, 5th Ed
Best practice standards for Mother and Baby Units in the UK, created by the Quality Network for Perinatal Mental Health Services.
Children’s Social Services and Safeguarding
This information is for any woman with a mental health problem who is planning a pregnancy, pregnant or has recently had a baby. It should also be helpful to partners, family and friends.
Commissioning in Perinatal Mental Health: Everyone’s Business
A blog post written by Sally Hogg for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing what commissioning is, why it matters and how providers and women with lived experience should inform commissioning.
Commissioning Perinatal Mental Health Services
The second report in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips Series. This report discusses how commissioners, providers and communities can work together to ensure a comprehensive and high quality offer for all women.
Depression in Pregnancy
A presentation from the 2017 MMHA conference about the molecular, clinical and psychosocial effects of depression in pregnancy.
Developing a perinatal mental health strategy
In this blog post for Mums and Babies in Mind Project, Julie Julliff, Head of Maternity Services for Haringey Clinical Commissioning Group, talks abooutdeveloping a strategy for perinatal mental health services.
Developing a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Community Service
The first report in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips series. This report outlines why specialist services matter, and shares lessons about how to develop and deliver effective services.
Developmental origins of mental health: new insights into mechanisms and interventions
This presentation from the 2017 MMHA explores the complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic and developmental environment factors that shape people’s mental health.
Domestic Violence and other social determinants of perinatal mental health: How can we prevent maternal and child morbidity and mortality?
This presentation from the 2017 MMHA explores social determinants of perinatal mental health, including domestic violence and how this should inform clinical practice.
East Midlands Service Specification
Service specification produced by East Midlands Specialised Perinatal Community Psychiatric Team, outlining care provision from pregnancy into the post natal period.
Eating disorders in pregnancy
A set of training resources for healthcare professionals about eating disorders and pregnancy. The resources, which include an animated film, incorporate the latest evidence and clinical guidance, and the perspectives of women with lived experience.
Emma’s story: Beyond Birth Trauma
A blog post written by Emma Jane Sasaru for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project. Emma tells her story about birth trauma, perinatal PTSD and making a difference for other women.
Establishing a Lead Commissioner in Perinatal Mental Health
In this blog post for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, Helen Ford, from Gloucestershire CCG discusses the value of having a Lead Commissioner for perinatal mental health, leading joint work across the local area.
Every mother must get the help they need
The report of the analysis of comments left at Lucie Holland’s Change.org petition about the urgent need for better awareness and care for those affected by maternal mental health problems.
Everyone’s Business Campaign Evaluation report
An independent evaluation of the first phase of the MMHA's Everyone’s Business Campaign. The Campaign, funded by Comic Relief, calls for greater provision of specialist perinatal mental health support in the UK.
Everyone’s Business Campaign Maps
Maps showing the provision and quality of specialist perinatal mental health community team services across the UK.
Everyone’s Business e-Bulletin Winter 2018
Everyone’s Business Mother and Baby Unit Maps
Map by MMHA showing accredited mother and baby units in the UK, including address details.
Everyone’s Business e-Bulletin Spring 2019
The Everyone’s Business campaign Spring 2019 e-bulletin is out now. It including details about:
- Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement of more than £50m for perinatal and infant mental health
- London turning the map green
- NSPCC NI’s new report saying it’s ‘time for action’.Everyone’s Business eBulletin Autumn 2019
The Everyone’s Business Autumn 2019 eBulletin has all the latest campaign news, including:
- An examination of NHS England's Mental Health Implementation Plan
- Encouraging updates from Scotland, but questions remain
- Wales’ Mother and Baby Unit update
- A roundup of members’ fantastic resources and campaigns.Exeter Service Specification
A useful example from Exeter of a service specification for perinatal mental health service provision, outlining process and criteria from referral through to discharge.
Falling through the Gaps – Perinatal mental health and general practice
A comprehensive report evaluating how women fall through the gaps in obtaining adequate perinatal care from general practitioners, based on a survey of GPs.
Father’s roles in perinatal mental health
An article looking at the role of fathers in the health and wellbeing of mothers and infants, including in new mothers’ depression and its impact on children.
Fear of childbirth (Tokophobia) and traumatic experience of childbirth: best practice toolkit
This toolkit offers best practice guidance about identifying and treating tokophobia. It draws on the current evidence and recommendations of a group of experts in the field.
Fifteen steps for maternity
This document, focusing on maternity, is part of a suite of toolkits produced by NHS England, which help to explore the experience of service users and involve them in quality assurance processes.
Five Year Forward View for Mental Health
Broad-ranging strategy paper by the Mental Health Taskforce looking at the funding and provision of mental health services in England, from crisis care to long term support.
Getting it right for every child
GIRFEC is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of children and young people by offering the right help at the right time from the right people.
Getting it right for mothers and babies
This NSPCC Scotland report, written with Maternal Mental Health Scotland, provides an insight into the current state of perinatal mental health services in Scotland.
Gloucestershire plan on a page
A one page infographic showing Gloucestershire's perinatal mental health priorities. This is a great example of local agencies coming together to understand local needs and develop a shared vision for action.
Hampshire PMH service model
Detailed review by Hampshire Perinatal Health Service or their work throughout 2013, with plans for continued professional development and future goals.
Head Up, Heart Strong
This film captures the stories of women who have experienced the most extreme episodes of perinatal depression and post-partum psychosis and who have been supported by the Devon Perinatal Mental Health Service.
Health Matters: Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life
This resource for health professionals and local authorities in England focuses on services from pregnancy through to 2 years old. It contains summaries of evidence, infographics and links to government policy .
Healthy Child Programme (Modules 5 and 6 on attachment, parenting, development and behaviour)
An e-learning programme for all healthcare professionals working with pregnancy and the first five years of life.
Healthy Start, Healthy Scotland
A briefing paper about improving the mental health of mothers and babies in Scotland.
I’m ready to thrive not just survive: Lindsay Robinson’s story
A blog post written by Lindsay Robinson of Northern Ireland for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing her experience of antenatal and postnatal depression which led her to campaign for maternal mental health.
Identifying women at high risk of severe mental illness: A learning programme for midwives
This learning programme has been designed by the All-Wales Perinatal Mental Health Group. It centres on key questions to help predict women at risk of severe mental illness during pregnancy and childbirth.
Implementation supplement to the report: The economic case for increasing access to treatment for women with common mental health problems during the perinatal period
This supplement was developed in response to feedback we received from some members of our advisory group after publication of the report ‘The economic case for increasing access to treatment for women with common mental health problems during the perinatal period'.
Improving Access to Perinatal Mental Health Services – A Review
NHS report providing an overview of perinatal mental health care and support, highlighting gaps in service provision, sharing lived women’s lived experiences and offering opportunities for improvement.
Increasing Mentalizing in the Parent Infant Relationship
A presentation from the 2017 MMHA conference exploring reflective parenting and trying to explain how to better understand what is going on inside a child’s mind and the benefits this can bring to the parent- child attachment.
Infant Feeding, Wellbeing and Perinatal Mental Health
Short paper by Dr L Santhanam on how healthcare professionals can support good mental health alongside infant feeding.
Infant mental health training
This interactive pdf resource aims to provide a starting point for professionals in Scotland to develop their knowledge about and confidence in supporting families to promote positive infant mental health and secure early relationships.
Just do it! Using the Pathway Assessment Tool to find gaps in services and improve women’s experiences
In this blog post written for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, Sharon Humberstone from NHS North East Lincolnshire CCG writes about the Pathway Assessment Tool to identify gaps in services.
Keeping Mothers and Babies in Mind
This study, by the Mental Welfare Commission in Scotland, focusses on the care of women with severe postnatal mental illness who require admission to hospital.
Keeping the Baby in Mind
This report, the seventh in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips series, summarises the evidence about the impact of perinatal mental illness on children and interventions that can support mother-infant relationships when a mother is ill.
Leading Change
This report, the sixth in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips series shares learning from a Masterclass about how to implement best practice, improve services and lead change within local systems and services.
Life after loss: An economic evaluation of specialist counselling after baby loss
This report presents an evaluation of the financial costs and benefits resulting from counselling provided by Petals, the baby loss counselling charity, and it projects the impact of a national scheme.
Lithium in pregnancy and breastfeeding
This is information is for any woman who is:
- Taking Lithium and wants to get pregnant.
- Taking Lithium and is pregnant.
- Pregnant and may need to start Lithium in pregnancy.
- Taking Lithium and wants to breastfeed.
- Breastfeeding and may need to start Lithium.
… and their partner, family and friends.MABIM Evaluation Report
An independent evaluation of the MMHA's Mums and Babies in Mind Project, which supported local commissioners and providers to improve services and care pathways for women with perinatal mental health problems and their babies.
MABIM Project Report
A report about the MMHA's Mums and Babies in Mind Project, which supported local commissioners and providers to improve services and care pathways for women with perinatal mental health problems and their babies.
Management of Perinatal Mood Guideline 127
This guideline, from Scotland, provides evidence based guidance for the management of antenatal and postnatal mood and anxiety disorders. The guideline covers prediction, detection and prevention, management in both primary and secondary care.
Management of Women with Mental Health Issues during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period (Good Practice No 14)
Good practice guidelines by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the management of women with mental health issues during pregnancy and he postnatal period.
Map of Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams (Northern Ireland)
Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Services: Northern Ireland
Map of Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams (Scotland)
Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Services: Scotland
Map of Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams (Wales)
Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Services: Wales
Maternal Emotional Wellbeing and Infant Development: A Good Practice Guide for Midwives
Evidence based information and practical guidance on maternal emotional wellbeing and infant development. Written by the Royal College of Midwives for midwives in the UK.
Maternal Mental Health Alliance views on Fathers in the NHS Long Term Plan
Maternal Mental Health Alliance views on Fathers in the NHS Long Term Plan
Maternal Mental Health Online Training
Two e-learning modules on maternal mental health, created by NHS Education for Scotland and aimed at all who work with pregnant women and new mothers.
Maternal Mental Health Roundtable (England) Commitments 2017/18
Pledges of support from key English perinatal mental health stakeholders made at the Maternal Mental Health Ministerial Roundtable jointly hosted by the MMHA and the Department of Health in Autumn 2017.
Maternal Mental Health Scotland
This website has been created by Maternal Mental Health Scotland to provide information to women affected by perinatal mental health issues, their partners, families and the general public.
Maternal Mental Health: Improving emotional wellbeing in postnatal care
An awareness raising report by the Royal College of Midwives to highlight the need to focus on maternal mental health to improve care for women and their families in the postnatal period.
Maternal Mental Health: Women’s Voices
Report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists summarising the findings of a survey of over 2300 women on their experiences of care during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
MATRIx Study – Informing Perinatal Mental Health Services
One in five women will experience psychological or emotional difficulties during pregnancy and the first year after birth. Research has shown that only about half of women with perinatal mental health problems are identified by health services and even fewer receive treatment. The MATRIx study was carried out to try and find out the reasons for this.
Maws – our Journey
This film is an educational resource for those experiencing perinatal mental health issues, and for health care professionals, which explores personal accounts of perinatal mental ill health.
MBRRACE-UK 2019 Infographic: Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care
An infographic showing the key messages from MBRRACE-UK's Confidential Enquiries into maternal deaths and morbidity in the UK and Ireland, 2015-17.
MBRRACE-UK 2019 Lay Summary: Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care
Lay summary of lessons learned from MBRRACE-UK's Confidential Enquiries into maternal deaths and morbidity in the UK and Ireland, 2015-17.
MBRRACE-UK 2019 Report: Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care
This report covers the lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into maternal deaths and morbidity 2015-17.
Mental health and the journey to parenthood
To help the NHS roll out new services and further improve the broader support offer, Healthwatch investigated people’s experiences of maternity and mental health.
Mental health champions briefing
A briefing paper on perinatal mental health for local authority Mental Health Member Champions produced by the Everyone’s Business Campaign together with the Centre for Mental Health and the Mental Health Challenge.
Mental health in pregnancy and infants: Fingertips reports
The prototype perinatal mental health profile is designed to support planners and providers in England to plan services, undertake needs assessments and benchmark. It brings together available metrics around perinatal mental health and babies.
Midwives and Health Visitors in Perinatal Mental Health
This report, the third in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips series, discusses the important role that midwives and health visitors play in preventing, detecting and managing perinatal mental illness, and in ensuring women get the right support.
MMHA conference 2018 presentations
In 2018 the MMHA's annual conference focused on 'Diversity: understanding and reaching the missing families.' Presentations from the day can be found here.
MMHA Response on the NHS Long Term Plan
MMHA Response on the NHS Long Term Plan
MMHA Submission to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s 1001 Days Inquiry
Maternal Mental Health Alliance Submission to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s 1001 Days Inquiry
Models for Decisions Regarding Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy
Educational film about models regarding treatment of depression during pregnancy. Made by Professor Louise Howard hosted on the Marce website.
Moment Health
An app created to connect mothers with the tools and knowledge they need to sustain good mental health and recover from illness.
Mother and Baby Units (MBUs)
This page is for:
- Any women who needs admission to a Mother and Baby Unit.
- Partners and families of any woman who may need admission, or has been admitted to a Mother and Baby Unit.Mums and Babies in Mind Graphic Recording
A graphic recording of a Mums and Babies in Mind workshop, sharing key messages from the presentations and discussions about how to drive local improvements in services for women with perinatal mental health problems .
My Story of mental health and wellbeing through pregnancy
Short film of lived experience of postnatal depression and finding the right treatment for subsequent pregnancy.
National Maternity Review: Better Births
This report sets out our vision for the planning, design and safe delivery of maternity services in England; and how staff will be supported to deliver such care.
Neonatal care through a young parent lens
Across May and June 2021, Bliss surveyed parents aged under 25, seeking to understand their experiences of neonatal care. This included questions relating to information and support needs, involvement in their baby’s care and the impact of their experiences on their finances, work and education.
NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20 – 2023/24
The NHS Long Term Plan renewed the NHS' commitment to pursue an ambitious transformation of mental health care in England. The Mental Health Implementation Plan provides a new framework to ensure they deliver on this commitment at the local level.
Normalising paternal mental illness
A blog post written by Louis Dunn for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing his experiences of perinatal mental illness and his work offering an emotional support service for new dads, called Dads in Mind.
Northern Ireland regional perinatal mental health pathway
The Regional Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway provides guidance for all Health and Social Care professionals in Northern Ireland who come into contact with pregnant women.
One out of Four
One out of Four is a project to ensure that the healthcare that we provide is sensitive to the needs of women survivors of sexual violence. These resources include an e-Learning module and materials for facilitators to provide local workshops.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
A survey carried out in 2019 found that 60% of bereaved parents felt they needed specialist psychological support for their mental health, but were not able to access it on the NHS.
Pan London Perinatal Mental Health Pathway
The perinatal mental health care pathway in this document sets out guidance on the key components required to develop and deliver perinatal mental health services that meet the needs of women and their families.
Parental Emotional Wellbeing and Infant Development
This guide provides midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) with recent evidence about the impact of parents’ emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and the transition to parenthood, and suggests evidence-based ways to support healthy parent-infant relationships.
Perinatal Befriending Support Service: An Evaluation of the Pilot Delivery (May 2015 – June 2016)
A research team at the University of Stirling was invited to carry out an evaluation of the service and to explore the Aberlour Perinatal Befriending Support Service’s fit with the Scottish policy and service context.
Perinatal Mental Health Audit Tool
his audit tool was created by Thames Valley Strategic Clinical Network and is endorsed by NICE. It supports statements 1–6 in the NICE quality standard on antenatal and postnatal mental health.
Perinatal mental health care skills competency framework
This competency framework for perinatal mental health care, created by Health Education England, aims to help workforce development through identifying the skills required and helping teams to assess their training needs.
Perinatal Mental Health Competency Framework for the Infant Feeding Workforce
This competency framework sets out the knowledge, skills and support that professionals and volunteers who support infant feeding should develop around perinatal and infant mental health,
Perinatal Mental Health Data Catalogue
A source of datasets on perinatal mental health prevalence, prevention and care, created by Public Health England.
Perinatal mental health e-learning for occupational therapists
This e-learning course is for occupational therapists working in perinatal mental health services and those who are new to or wishing to work in this specialist area of practice.
Perinatal Mental Health Experiences of Women and Professionals
This report describes the key findings from two surveys: of around 1,500 women and of more than 2,000 health professionals.
Perinatal Mental Health for Mutiple Birth families
This factsheet contains information for health professionals about perinatal mental health for multiple birth families.
Perinatal mental health in Wales
A report from the Children, Young People and Education Committee in Wales about how Perinatal Mental Health services are currently provided and how the Welsh Government can improve services.
Perinatal Mental Health is Everyone’s Business in Northern Ireland
A briefing by the MMHA's Everyone's Business team about the state of perinatal mental health care in Northern Ireland and why it is important for improvements to be made.
Perinatal Mental Health is Everyone’s Business in Scotland
A briefing by the MMHA's Everyone's Business team about the state of perinatal mental health care in Scotland and why it is important for improvements to be made.
Perinatal Mental Health is Everyone’s Business in Wales
A briefing by the MMHA's Everyone's Business team about the state of perinatal mental health care in Wales and why it is important for improvements to be made.
Perinatal Mental Health Teams
A list, created in summer 2018, of the perinatal mental health teams around the UK. This was pulled together by a midwife and shared with the MMHA for use by other professionals.
Perinatal Mental Health: E-learning for Health Care Modules
This e-learning programme has two parts: Perinatal Mental Health for Health Visitors, and Perinatal Mental Health for professionals working in different disciplines. The programme has been designed to help educate and increase awareness.
Perinatal OCD – information for carers
This leaflet contains information for the partners, family and friends of any woman with Perinatal OCD.
Perinatal Positive Practice Guide for IAPT
This guide sets out how IAPT service can best meet the needs of women with perinatal mental health problems. It covers understanding needs, removing barriers to access,
Plea to national and local decision makers to PLAN for perinatal mental health care during and beyond COVID-19
To ensure women and their families receive the care they need during Covid-19, the MMHA urge national and local decision makers to PLAN with the mental as well as physical health needs of women and their families in mind.
PMH Curricular Framework (Scotland)
This Curricular Framework is based on a multidisciplinary collaboration of practitioners and educationalists working in Scotland.
Position Paper – Perinatal psychology provision in specialist perinatal community mental health services
This briefing outlines the important role perinatal psychology plays in specialist community teams.
Poster: The Perinatal Peer Support Principles
A summary poster depicting the five principles of perinatal peer support. The Perinatal Peer Support Principles were co-designed by people with lived experience, maternal mental health and maternity professionals, organisations facilitating peer support, Mind and the McPin Foundation.
Postpartum Psychosis
Presentation from the 20017 MMHA conference by Fiona Putnam of the national charity for women and families affected by Postpartum Psychosis (PP), outlining a very personal experience of this most severe form of post natal mental illness.
Postpartum Psychosis for Carers
This page aims to explain the symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis and to describe the care and treatment available. The checklists at the end are tools to help families and health professionals communicate well while someone recovers from Postpartum Psychosis.
Postpartum Psychosis Insider Guides
This series of guides from APP are designed to help women who have experienced postpartum psychosis and their partners, to aid recovery and support those at risk when planning a pregnancy.
PQN Inpatient Standards, 8th Edition
These standards are designed to be applicable to mother and baby units and can be used by professionals to assess the quality of the team. The standards may also be of interest to commissioners, patients, carers, researchers and policy makers.
Preconception care: making the case
A suite of information, intelligence and tools published by Public Health England to help in planning and preparation for pregnancy, including a report and recommendations for Local Maternity Systems, a toolkit with data on risk factors and inequalities, and an animation.
Prenatal Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Prenatal stress, anxiety and depression: effects on the fetus and the child across the generations: a presentation from the 2017 MMHA conference by Professor Vivette Glover.
Prevention in Mind
This report by the NSPCC shines a spotlight on perinatal mental illness: it discusses their nature, prevalence, and effects on families; the care that women and their families need, and the gaps in services that currently exist in England.
Priority setting in local services with use of the Pathway Assessment Tool
A blog post written by Julia Thompson for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing using the Pathway Assessment Tool to benchmark existing perinatal and infant mental health services against national standards.
Putting fathers in the picture
A blog post written by Sharin Baldwin for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing the mental health and wellbeing of fathers.
RCGP Ten Top Tips: A Summary of NICE Guidance CG192
This document highlights the recommendations relevant to GPs from NICE CG192 Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health. It has been developed to raise awareness and support implementation of the NICE guideline in primary care.
Reaching all communities affected by perinatal mental illness
This report, the fifth report in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips series, focuses on the experiences of parents from diverse and marginalised communities, and how services can on reach all communities
Report on a Survey of Heads of Midwifery on Specialist Maternal Mental Health Midwives
The Royal College of Midwives and MMHA's survey of the current level of provision and the practice undertaken by specialist midwives.
Rights in Mind
This pathway is designed to help staff in mental health services ensure that patients have their human rights respected at key points in their treatment.
Royal College of Psychiatrists: Building capacity in perinatal mental health services leaflets
Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care – Surveillance of maternal deaths 2018
MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report and provides information on extended perinatal deaths in the UK and Crown Dependencies arising from births during 2014-16.
Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care
This report examines in detail the care of women who died during or up to one year after pregnancy between 2014 and 2016 in the UK and Ireland from mental health conditions, blood clots, cancer, and homicide, and women who survived major bleeding.
Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care Rapid report: Learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK
Expedited reviews were conducted into all deaths of women with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection during or up to one year after pregnancy, and any deaths of women who died from mental health-related causes or domestic violence, which might have been influenced by public health measures introduced to control the epidemic such as lockdown.
Senior Campaign Assistant
Job description for MMHA Senior Campaign Assistant
Service Design and Innovation
An annotatd slide pack, which is part of the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips Series. This document introduces service design principles and approaches, which can support innovation and service improvement.
Seven Minute Briefing
Seven Minute briefings provide summaries of information for professional audiences. This is a template briefing on perinatal mental health, which can be tailored for local use.
Specialist Health Visitors in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
The report recommends commissioning of Specialist Health Visitors in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health throughout UK to tackle growing social cost issues.
Stepping Forward to 2020/21: Mental Health Workforce Plan for England
This plan outlines the workforce approach required to support delivery of the aims set out in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health in England.
Strengthening parent-infant mental health in Warwickshire
A blog post written by Sophy Forman-Lynch for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing Warwickshire’s multi-agency to promote and support parent-infant mental.
Support Overdue: Women’s experiences of maternity services
This report presents the findings of the NFWI’s and NCT’s second survey of women’s experiences of maternity care, providing insights into the experiences of 2,500 women who gave birth in England or Wales in 2014- 2016
Supporting High-Quality Perinatal Mental Health Care
A new resource to enable and inform high-quality, compassionate care for families impacted by perinatal mental health problems.
Supporting High-Quality Perinatal Mental Health Care: What does good look like?
This evidence review was collated following a desktop review by the Institute of Health Visiting. The review includes key publications, policy guidance, toolkits, research and reports of families’ and practitioners’ lived experience. The focus of the review is “what does high-quality perinatal mental health care look like” for women, birthing people and their families.
Supporting positive conversations about feeding choice and mental health in the perinatal period
A blog post written by Wendy Jones & Shereen Fisher for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing the complex relationship between how a woman feeds her baby and her perinatal mental health.
Systemic racism, not broken bodies
An inquiry into racial injustice and human rights in UK maternity care.
Tackling Stigma and Finding Support – postcards and posters
Resources produced by NHS organisations and partners in Gloucestershire to raise awareness of perinatal mental health issues, tackle stigma and signpost to support. Distributed in public buildings and used by health professionals.
Tackling stigma around perinatal mental illness
A blog post written by Jane Melton for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, describing the campaign they have developed in Gloucestershire to help tackle stigma around perinatal mental illness.
Tameside and Glossop Care Pathway
This parent-infant mental health pathway was developed by a multiagency working group in Tameside, with the aim of promoting a seamless, flexible and high quality responsive care for all families.
The Best Start at Home
A brief review from Early Intervention Foundation of interventions to improve the quality of parent child interactions from conception to age 5 years.
The Best Start: A Five year forward plan for maternity and neonatal care in Scotland
The report sets out the Case for Change for maternity and neonatal services in Scotland, describing current services, providing details of the review and it's findings, and describing a new model of care supported by a series of recommendations.
The Black Maternity Experiences Survey
A nationwide study of black women's experiences of maternity services in the UK. Both quantitative and qualitative data was gathered from 1340 women and birthing people from around the UK who either identified as Black or of Black mixed heritage and had accessed NHS maternity services whilst pregnant between 2016 and 2021.
The Dad Project
This NSPCC report - supported by the Design Council - contains insights on how to better engage dads in antenatal and postnatal care. It highlights why involving dads is so important in giving children the best possible start in life.
The Fetal Brain: Sensitive to a Mother’s Own Childhood Environment?
Presentation from first MMHA annual conference (2017) by Claudia Buss on the Fetal Brain: Sensitive to a Mother’s Own Childhood Environment exploring intergenerational transmission of the effects of maternal childhood trauma.
The Health of the 51%: Women
The report examines women’s health in England and makes a range of recommendations to improve it. It identifies several missed opportunities for intervention in a range of
The Make Birth Better Survey 2019: The Circle of Trauma for Parents and Professionals
Make Birth Better's study showed 30% of new mums suffering from mental and/or physical trauma following their birth, are not being given the support they need to cope. The report also considers the experiences and needs of maternity staff.
The Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways
This document sets out care pathways and guidance on how to address inequalities in access to services. It provides services with evidence on what works in perinatal mental health and case studies of positive
The role of a Liaison Psychiatrist in perinatal mental health
In this blog for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, Susie Lingwood, a Liaison Psychiatrist, writes about working with Mums and Babies in Mind to improve perinatal mental health services in north London.
Three core concepts in early development
Three short films illustrating how a baby’s brain develops, including how severe maternal depression can affect a babies' brain development.
Tommy’s Perinatal Mental Health Films
A series of films on lived experience of perinatal mental illness and trauma.
Top Tips for Effective Communication in Mental Health
Tips for assessing and listening to women with perinatal metal illness for GPs compiled by Dr Sweta Raj & Dr Carrie Ladd.
Training Gloucestershire health visitors to promote mums’ and babies’ mental health
A blog for the Mums and Babies in Mind project, written by Catherine Whitcombe, Locality Practice Teacher, about the work health visitors are doing in Gloucestershire to promote mums’ and babies’ mental health.
Transport and maternal mental health
Many mothers rely on public transport as an essential means of accessing antenatal and postnatal appointments. This report, published by the Mental Health Foundation, looks at the modes of transport women and families rely on, whether their needs are being met, challenges or barriers to access, and opportunities for transport improvements.
Twitter Tutorial: Using Twitter for Perinatal Mental Health
Laura Wood, a mum with lived experience, created this tutorial for the Mums and Babies in Mind project to help professionals working in the sector to make the most of Twitter for perinatal mental health.
Two for the price of one: The Impact of body image during pregnancy and after birth
This report looks at the myriad of health and psychological effects that body image can have on pregnant women and new mothers, and shows how preoccupation with body image problems can be unconsciously transmitted down to their children.
User Insight and Engagement
This report, the fourth in the Mums and Babies in Mind Top Tips series contains top tips on including women’s voices in the development and improvement of perinatal mental health pathways and services.
Valproate in women and girls who could get pregnant
This information is for any girl or woman of child-bearing age who:
- Has been offered a medication containing Valproate.
- Is currently taking a medication containing Valproate.
- Is currently taking a medication containing Valproate and who is pregnant
… and their partner, families and friends.Video Interaction Guidance in a Nutshell
In this blog Educational Psychologist Hilary Kennedy explains Video Interaction Guidance and how widely it can be used to support the parent-infant relationship.
Warwickshire plan on a page
A one page plan showing Warwickshire's priorities for perinatal mental health and how they will be achieved. This is a great example of local agencies coming together to understand local needs and develop a shared vision for action.
Wellbeing Plan for women
The Tommy's Wellbeing Plan is a two-page plan, endorsed by NICE, that helps women start thinking about how they feel and what support they might need in pregnancy and after the birth.
What a difference an hour can make – Training GPs in Perinatal Mental Health
In this blog post for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, Dr Carrie Ladd, GP, Royal College of GPs (RCGP) Clinical Fellow in Perinatal Mental Health talks about developing a training package for GPs.
What are Perinatal Mental Health Services?
This information is written for any woman who:
- Has a mental health problem and who is planning a pregnancy.
- Has had a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
- Is at risk of having a mental health problem during pregnancy, or after birth.
- Has been referred to a perinatal mental health service.
... and their partner, family and friends.What do women say? Reproductive health is a public health issue
A report about women's reproductive health, combining women’s experiences with existing data to define reproductive health as a public health issue. This report contains some discussion of postnatal depression.
What does excellence in Perinatal Mental Health look like? Meeting the NICE Guideline for Postnatal Mental Health
A presentation by Professor Louise Howard on what good practice in perinatal mental health looks like.
What is commissioning and how is it changing?
Commissioning is the process by which health and care services are planned, purchased and monitored. Here we look at the commissioning process in more detail, the organisations involved and how it is changing.
What works to enhance the effectiveness of the healthy child programme?
This report provides information about the evidence for approaches to early intervention for mothers and infants, which may be commissioned and delivered locally as part of the Healthy Child Programme.
Who’s the bloke in the room?
A report about fathers' experiences during pregnancy and at the birth in the UK
Why Health Visitors Matter
This report is a compilation of short testimonies about why health visitors are important in ensuring our children are safe, healthy and able to thrive. Through these testimonies we see the importance of health visitors’ work and the breadth and depth of what they do.
World Mental Health Day blog: Working through loss and trauma
A blog on trauma and loss written by clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist Josephine Harrison for the Mums and Babies in Mind Project, to mark 2016 World Mental Health Day.
If you spot resources that are missing from the hub, or want us to add more, please email your suggestions to info@maternalmentalhealthalliance.org.
