A safe space to talk about perinatal mental health

Guest blog by Tracey Stone, Head of Parent Supporters at Netmums

Netmums is clear that specialist support and services for perinatal mental health are essential.

As one of the UK’s most diverse, inclusive, and supportive parenting communities, attracting millions of unique users to the site every month, Netmums is acutely aware of how great perinatal mental health needs are. We engage with our community across social media as well as on the site, listening to parents’ worries, and signposting to appropriate and reliable support. Continue reading A safe space to talk about perinatal mental health →

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

When is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2022?

Monday 13 – Sunday 19 June 2022

What is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week (IMHAW)?

IMHAW takes place in June every year, providing an opportunity for those working in the infant mental health sector to raise awareness of the importance of babies’ social and emotional development, and to share work they are doing.

Who is it organised by?

The week is organised and led by MMHA member the Parent-Infant Foundation, who bring together and support the infant mental health sector, provide clinical leadership and campaign for policy change.

What is this year’s theme?

The overall theme of IMHAW 2022 is ‘Understanding Early Trauma’. See Parent-Infant Foundation’s calendar for a list of planned activities.

Get involved

Visit the Parent-Infant Foundation website to find out how you can get involved and for examples of how parent-infant teams and organisations have marked IMHAW in the past.

 

Black women in the UK experience maternity discrimination and mixed care, according to a new report from Five X More

A new survey from campaigning organisation Five X More has found that Black women in the UK continue to experience discrimination and are receiving a mixed level of maternity care during the antenatal, labour, and postnatal period.

Studies, such as MBRRACE-UK’s annual Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths, have consistently shown disparities between Black and white women’s maternal experiences and outcomes. However, the reasons for the differences remain unclear and under-researched. Continue reading Black women in the UK experience maternity discrimination and mixed care, according to a new report from Five X More →

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance celebrates 10 years of creating change for women and families

On Thursday 19 May, staff and trustees came together with Members, Lived Experience Champions and Perinatal Mental Health professionals to celebrate MMHA’s belated 10th anniversary. It was incredibly special to share the same physical space, reflect on our collective achievements and look to the future of the Alliance. Continue reading The Maternal Mental Health Alliance celebrates 10 years of creating change for women and families →

Flying Start pilot project: remote perinatal mental health screening

Last year, Sarah Witcombe-Hayes, Everyone’s Business Campaign Coordinator for Wales, spoke to Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN), Paula Donovan, to find out how the ‘Flying Start’ pilot project improved screening for perinatal mental health problems and women’s access to support in the South Wales Valleys.

This International Nurses Day 2022, the MMHA recognises Paula’s efforts and those of other nurses working in perinatal mental health. We thank them for all they do to support women and families.

Continue reading Flying Start pilot project: remote perinatal mental health screening →

Why Health Visitors Matter: A new report from the First 1001 Days Movement

Why Health Visitors Matter A new report from the First 1001 Days Movement (1)Today, the First 1001 Days Movement has launched ‘Why Health Visitors Matter’. The report contains a compilation of short statements by parents, professionals and charity leaders showing the breadth and depth of health visitors’ work, and its importance in areas such as:

    • maternal mental health
    • infant mental health
    • bereavement support
    • safeguarding
    • and more.

Continue reading Why Health Visitors Matter: A new report from the First 1001 Days Movement →

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge becomes Royal Patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff team, I am delighted to announce Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge as Royal Patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA).

The MMHA was founded in 2011, and in just over a decade we have celebrated significant and much-needed progress in the provision of specialist perinatal mental health services across the UK. Today, thanks to the extraordinary and sustained efforts of our members, supporters, and Lived Experience Champions, more mums than ever can access the right care at the right time. However, there is still work to be done to ensure this is a reality for every mum, baby, and family.

We are immensely honoured that The Duchess has recognised and chosen to support the MMHA’s work by becoming our Royal Patron. The Duchess’ longstanding dedication to the Early Years and keen interest in mental health marry beautifully with our aims; it is a perfect partnership.

The MMHA looks forward to working with The Duchess to ensure the needs of all women, babies, and families continue to be heard and met.

Luciana Berger

Chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance

WATCH: A message from The Duchess to mark Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

 

Investing in mental health support in pregnancy can save lives says RCM and MMHA

PRESS RELEASE

Lives can be saved with more investment and better support for women with maternal mental health problems in pregnancy and after birth, say the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA). The two organisations have come together to call for better support and care for women during and after pregnancy as part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week running from 2-8 May.

In a joint statement today the two organisations outlined three key steps needed to improve care for new and expectant mothers, and referenced research which highlights how changes to current practice would also lead to significant savings of around half a billion pounds over a decade. Continue reading Investing in mental health support in pregnancy can save lives says RCM and MMHA →

Spring 2022 Everyone’s Business eBulletin now available!

In our Spring 2022 eBulletin, we share the latest news from MMHA’s Everyone’s Business campaign and the perinatal mental health (PMH) community, including:

    1. Important findings from new independent economic research, commissioned by the MMHA
    2. Launch of the Amplifying Maternal Voices Project, in collaboration with MMHA member the Mental Health Foundation
    3. PMH service developments from across the UK.

Download now

Please share the eBulletin with your network to help us raise awareness of the changes needed in UK PMH care and the experiences of women and families.

On Twitter and Instagram, please tag @MMHAlliance and use #EveryonesBusiness.

 

Due to technical issues, the Welsh translation of this eBulletin has been delayed but will be available shortly, along with all editions published since summer 2020, here.

16,389 new and expectant mothers were unable to access essential perinatal mental health care last year

 

    • Just 40,411 new and expectant mothers received specialist support, over 16,000 short of the NHS target to treat 57,000 women
    • A record 93,494 women were referred to perinatal mental health services in England alone last year
    • Maternal Mental Health Alliance member, the Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling for a fully funded mental health recovery plan to make it easier for women to access care.

According to analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, thousands of new and expectant mothers with serious mental problems are missing out on vital specialist support.

Continue reading 16,389 new and expectant mothers were unable to access essential perinatal mental health care last year →