Scottish Government release latest Delivery Plan for perinatal and infant mental health

By Joanne Smith, Everyone’s Business Scotland Coordinator

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance’s (MMHA) Everyone’s Business campaign welcomes publication of the Scottish Government’s perinatal mental health delivery plan.

We commend the level of ambition, and ongoing commitment to strengthen and improve services across the pathway, including the third sector which has been a lifeline for many women and families, particularly during lock down. Continue reading Scottish Government release latest Delivery Plan for perinatal and infant mental health →

Summer 2020 Everyone’s Business eBulletin out now!

 

Front cover of the MMHA Everyone's Business Summer 2020 eBulletin
Download now

The Everyone’s Business summer 2020 eBulletin contains the latest from the Everyone’s Business Campaign and UK perinatal mental health (PMH) community.

The first half explores the impact COVID-19 has have on mums, families and the health professionals supporting them in the perinatal period. It includes information about:

  1. Our Plea to PLAN: campaign calls in light of the pandemic
  2. How MMHA members responded to the crisis and continue to provide mental health support to new and expectant mums
  3. A reminder that services across the pathway are open!

The second half focusses on important campaign developments, including exciting news from Northern Ireland, and our expert by experience champions articulate why they think specialist PMH services are more important than ever.

Please share widely among your networks! On Twitter, please tag @MMHAlliance and #EveryonesBusiness.

Also available in Welsh!

This eBulletin has been translated into Welsh to support campaigners working hard to make maternal mental health Everyone’s Business in Wales.

Download the Welsh summer 2020 eBulletin now

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For physical copies, please email sian@maternalmentalhealthalliance.org.

How perinatal mental health services in Wales reacted to the pandemic

Update from Dr Sarah Witcombe-Hayes, Everyone’s Business Campaign Wales Coordinator

Service adaptations

Perinatal mental health

In Wales, community perinatal mental health (PMH) services have continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 crisis, providing support to mums, dads/partners and the families who need it.

Fortunately, PMH teams were unaffected by redeployment to other frontline areas and were able to work quickly and innovatively to ensure appointments moved online or over the phone, where possible. More intensive face-to-face support has been determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on need. Support and consultation for other healthcare colleagues have also been prioritised. Continue reading How perinatal mental health services in Wales reacted to the pandemic →

MMHA launch new COVID-19 maternal mental health guidance

These are uncertain times for us all, but particularly those who are expecting or have recently had a baby.

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) does not usually create materials for mums directly, but in these extraordinary times, MMHA members, staff and leading experts have collaborated on guidance to help new and expectant mums protect their mental wellbeing.

Read and share the guidance now >

Now also available in Welsh

In the hope of reaching as many new and expectant mums in the UK as possible with expert information to support their mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the MMHA guidance is also available in the Welsh language:

Read and share Welsh guidance now >

 

Special thanks to those Maternal Mental Health Alliance members, Everyone’s Business lived experience champions, maternity and maternal mental health professionals who helped produce this guidance.

 

Perinatal mental health services more important now than ever as we emerge from the pandemic

Think piece by Joanne Smith, Everyone’s Business Scotland Coordinator

On World Maternal Mental Health Day, the time is right to reflect on the progress made in Scotland to protect pregnant women, new mums and their babies during the perinatal period.
 

While there have been encouraging signs of progress following the establishment of the perinatal managed clinical network and the perinatal and infant mental health programme board, the levels of specialist provision still falls short in most parts of the country, meaning right now, women and families still face a postcode lottery.

Continue reading Perinatal mental health services more important now than ever as we emerge from the pandemic →

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2020

What is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week?

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a week-long campaign dedicated to talking about mental illness during and after pregnancy.

It’s all about raising public and professional awareness of perinatal mental illness, advocating for women affected by it, and helping them access the information, care and support they need to recover. Continue reading Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 →

The First 1001 Days Movement highlights impact of COVID-19 on parents and babies

Today, the First 1001 Days Movement – which includes over 40 charities and professional bodies – calls on national and local decision makers to give urgent attention to the wellbeing of parents, babies, and toddlers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Led by Maternal Mental Health Alliance member, Parent-Infant Foundation, the movement argues that babies, both born and unborn, and their parents should be given particular attention during this critical period. The potentially serious immediate and long-term consequences of not doing so calls for strong leadership and a concerted, joined-up effort to reduce harm.

Read the full statement