The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) and Mums and Babies in Mind (MABIM) have announced the winners of the first perinatal mental health awards.
The awards, which were announced on 13th September at the first Annual UK Maternal Mental Health Alliance Conference at Imperial College, London, recognise best practice and achievement in the categories of perinatal mental health education and training, perinatal mental health awareness raising, peer support and transgenerational service.
The winners were presented with their awards by acclaimed author, journalist and psychotherapist Susie Orbach.
Dr Camilla Rosan, Programme Lead for Families, Children and Young People at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“We had nearly 100 nominations from the public, private and charity sectors. We were looking for projects and services with a creative and innovative approach to perinatal mental health and we found some real heroes.
“Early intervention for maternal mental health can have a dramatic impact on outcomes for mothers, fathers, children and the wider community.
“Our winners and runners up are making a real difference to the mental health of women and their families, helping to break the cycle of intergenerational mental ill health.”
Dr Alain Gregoire, founder and Chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, said:
“This is a remarkable group of cutting-edge scientists gathered at Imperial College to discuss mental health across the generations and the earliest possible interventions to prevent mental health problems.”
The winners are:
Emma Cadywould Award for Perinatal Mental Health Education and Training 2017
Winner: International Training School for Infancy and Early Years
Highly Commended: Institute of Health Visiting Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Champion Training Programme
Anti-Stigma Award for Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Raising 2017
Winner: Maternal Mental Health Scotland, Change Agents
Highly Commended: Making Life Better, 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust
Perinatal Peer Support Award 2017
Winner: Action on Postpartum Psychosis
Highly Commended: Parents in Mind, National Childbirth Trust
Big Lottery Transgenerational Service Award 2017
Winner: Bluebell Care Trust
Highly Commended: ReConnect, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
The MMHA conference, ‘Intergenerational Mental Health: working with mums and babies in perinatal mental health practice’, is funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund. It brings together international experts, practitioners, service users and academics to explore how a whole-family approach can break the intergenerational cycle of mental health problems.
For more on this and the award winners contact Fiona Salter on fsalter@mentalhealth.org.uk or media@maternalmentalhealthalliance.org