Maternal mental health matters - for the entire family

Perinatal mental health

This page provides an overview of the perinatal mental health campaigns that I am privileged to be a part of, and the research and professional work that I undertake. This typically focuses on antenatal and postnatal depression, postpartum psychosis (including bipolar disorders), maternal OCD, birth trauma and PTSD, and perinatal eating disorders. I have worked with maternal mental health for more than 20 years but, more recently, this work has also incorporated fathers' mental health.

Much of my current work focuses on campaigning for better services (through national groups such as the Maternal Mental Health Alliance and the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership. You will find a summary of that work on this page, with more detail on the campaigns page. I also promote awareness about perinatal mental health, mostly through social media. I deliver mental health training programmes for health professionals (including health visitors and midwives). I have also condcuted extensive research (see below)

Raising awareness, campaigning and peer support

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DorPIP

A consequence of poor perinatal mental health is the impact it can have on the attachment between parent and child. Poor attachment can contribute to developmental problems in children. To address this, I am a Trustee for DorPIP, a Dorset-based charity seeks to provide therapeutic support for this.

Birth Trauma Association

The Birth Trauma Association is a UK charity dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. They aim to support parents and families, and improve parents’ experience of birth - engaging and educating health professionals, and taking part in research to identify failings in maternal care.

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Peppy Health

Peppy Health is an organisation providing access to perinatal support in the workplace. I provide advice on perinatal mental health matters. Peppy’s parenting programme during Covid-19. Our parenting support report for Peppy is now available on the NHS England website.

Make Birth Better

Make Birth Better is a network of perinatal mental health professionals, campaigners, academics and researchers who have come together to influence better understanding and support. I am a Champion for the network, especailly in matters relating to birth trauma and fathers’ mental health.

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Maternal Mental Health Alliance

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is a coalition of over 100 national organisations, for whom improving perinatal mental health is central to the work that they do. MMHA is leading several key projects, focused on improving services, education and information (as well as raising awareness).

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Perinatal Mental Health Partnership

The Perinatal Mental Health Partnership is a group of health professionals, charity leaders, mental health campaigners, and advocates with lived experience of perinatal mental illness. Each year (in early May), we run Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. In September 2018, our work challenging perinatal mental health stigma was recognised with an award from MMHA.

More information can be found on the campaigns and support page

Research

It is essential that we continually expand our knowledge about perinatal mental health. We can do that by designing, implementing and reporting high quality research. You can read about some of my own research in this area.

Perinatal mental illnesses

A common perception is that maternal mental health is all about postnatal depression. Although that is the most common concern for a mother’s mental health after having a baby, there are many other conditions. You can read an overview of those on the perinatal mental illnesses page.