When is it?
29th April to 5th May 2019, organised by MMHA member the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership (PMHP).
What is it?
A week-long campaign dedicated to talking about mental illness during pregnancy or after having a baby and signposting to support for all mums. The focus is on advocating for mums affected by maternal mental health and helping them to access the information and help they need to enable recovery.
This year’s theme for the third annual UK Maternal Mental Health Matters Awareness Week is Mums Matter.
How to get involved
- Highlight what your organisation does to support families affected by perinatal mental illness
- Join in with the daily activities listed below
- Use the #maternalmhmatters hashtag on social media when referring to the week
Daily themes
Monday 29th April – What is Perinatal Mental Health?
An overview of different perinatal mental illnesses.
Hashtag: #pmhpwhatispmh
Tuesday 30th April – What good support looks like
Support can be wide ranging from advice and help from health care professionals, medication, therapy and safe peer support to name a few.
PMHP are encouraging charities, local peer support groups and services to share their details on social media so families know what support is available across the UK.
Hashtag: #pmhpsupport
Wednesday 1st May – World Maternal Mental Health Day – ‘The Village’
Focusing on how we work together to remove barriers to services so all mums who need support can access them.
Hashtag: #pmhpthevillage
Thursday 2nd May – Recovery
The message of hope that recovery is possible, how this can begin and how it can look different for different people.
Hashtag: #pmhprecovery
Friday 3rd May – ‘Positivity Pot’
Publishing and sharing articles and blogs about recovery, looking ahead to the future and self-care.
Hashtag: #pmhppositivitypot
What do PMHP have planned?
#PNDHOUR
Every night at 8pm, run by Rosey from PNDandMe and PMHP.
Facebook Lives
29th April, 10-11am – Peer Support with Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support
Juno will focus on peer support, outlining their work and how powerful safe peer support can be to help recovery.
30th April 11am-12pm – Engaging with Health Care Professionals and accessing peer support with The Smile Group
The SMILE Group will be challenging the stereotypical views of what a peer support group is like, provide an overview of what is involved and talk through the appointment checklist and how it came about.
30th April 8-9pm – Breastfeeding and Antidepressants with Wendy Jones MBE
Pharmacist Wendy Jones will be sharing information on how to access support to help with recovery and answer specific concerns about antidepressant use while breastfeeding.
2nd May 11am-12pm – The influence of BAME Maternal community groups and mental well-being with The Motherhood Group
The Motherhood Group Founder Sandra Igwe will be leading the chat about how difficult it can be to discuss mental health issues in the black community, drawing on her own experience of postnatal anxiety.
3rd May 4.30-5.30pm – Recovery and looking ahead with Eve Canavan BEM
PMHP member Eve had Postpartum Psychosis 9 years ago after the birth of her son and was treated in a mother and baby unit. In this session Eve will talk about recovery and the tools that can support it.
PMHP will also share:
- a video about what happens when you are referred to a local Perinatal Mental Health team
- a session for health care professionals on how to engage with and support mums
- information for mums in the BAME community about help and support available
- watch sessions via their Facebook page of previous Facebook Lives.
Contact PMHP
Find PMHP on Twitter @PMHPUK, Facebook or Instagram @perinatalmhpartnership.