Tag Archives: MMHA member

iHV and MMHA work together to inform high-quality perinatal mental health care

 

    • Mental illness is the most common serious health problem that women experience during pregnancy and after birth, impacting around 1 in 5.
    • Without treatment, perinatal mental health (PMH) problems can have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and wider society.
    • In partnership with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) has produced a resource based on a review of 12 years of policy and research about what good PMH care looks like.
    • The resource aims to support services, individuals, multiagency groups and networks across health, public health, social care, and non-statutory services.

Today, the iHV and the MMHA are proud to share ‘Supporting High-Quality Perinatal Mental Health Care’, a new resource to enable and inform high-quality, compassionate care for families impacted by PMH problems. This collaboration began from a shared desire to encourage and embed good PMH practices within services supporting women and birthing people, babies, and their families. Continue reading iHV and MMHA work together to inform high-quality perinatal mental health care →

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 →

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 →

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 →

Occupational therapy and perinatal mental health

To mark Occupational Therapy Week 2021, the MMHA invited Dr Sally Payne, Professional Adviser for Children, Young People and Families at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and Debra Jeffery, Specialist Perinatal Community Occupational Therapist, to share their thoughts on the vital role of occupational therapy in supporting women’s perinatal mental health. Continue reading Occupational therapy and perinatal mental health →

WRDA and the Mas Project: lived experience insights

Guest blog by Clare Anderson, Mas Project Coordinator, Women’s Resource and Development Agency

Who is MMHA’s new member WRDA?

The Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) has a vision of a fair and equal society where women are empowered and are a visible force for change and influence in all areas of life. The Mas project (Maternal Advocacy & Support), in partnership with eight women’s centres in the Belfast, Lisburn and Derry area, offer peer support to women who are experiencing perinatal mental health problems. The project also provides a platform for women to talk about their experiences in the healthcare system and identify service areas that could be improved or developed for pregnant and postnatal women in Northern Ireland. [1] Continue reading WRDA and the Mas Project: lived experience insights →

16,000 women were unable to access essential perinatal mental health care due to the pandemic, according to research

 

  • Postcode lottery in England puts the mental health of expectant and new mums at risk.
  • Maternal Mental Health Alliance member, the Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling for funding for perinatal mental health facilities in the next spending review and for local health bodies to invest in services in their areas.

Thousands of women could not get vital help with their mental health during pregnancy or right after giving birth because of the covid pandemic, according to new analysis using the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Mental Health Watch.

Continue reading 16,000 women were unable to access essential perinatal mental health care due to the pandemic, according to research →