Maternal mental health resources for professionals

The Healthy Pregnancy Pathway 

Guidance on intervention and support at every level of need (community, universal, targeted and specialist) from preconception to 6 to 8 weeks post-partum.

Five X More 

• Committed to changing Black women’s maternal health outcomes in the UK.
• Empowering Black women to make informed choices and advocate for themselves.
  

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has worked with Five X More to develop 5 actions for healthcare professionals to adopt. These actions aim to help drive change, change attitudes and put an end to these devastating inequalities.

Implementation of trauma-informed care in the perinatal period: NHS support guide

For clinical and non-clinical staff working with perinatal women in maternity and mental health services. All staff can play a part in ensuring women and their families feel safe and secure in the care setting. 

This guide is also for parents to help them understand what good trauma-informed practice might look like.

Maternal Mental Health Alliance resource hub

Essential resources for UK professionals working in perinatal mental health.

For professionals, training and workshops, as well as information and support for parents:

1. Make Birth Better – A collective of experts who bring together lived experience and extensive professional knowledge of birth trauma and vicarious trauma.
2. Birth Trauma Association – a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma.

PHE Fingertips Perinatal Mental Health profiling tool

For planners, commissioners, service providers, clinicians, and service users and their families. Use to profile area(s) of interest and benchmark against neighbour populations (both geographical and statistical). 

It can help with needs assessment and strategy development, and support decision making on the planning and commissioning of services that relate to perinatal mental health.

Maternal mental health during a pandemic

A rapid evidence review exploring the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of women during pregnancy and after they’ve given birth. Commissioned by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) and conducted by Centre for Mental Health. 

The MMHA YouTube channel features short videos of findings and recommendations, and shares reflections from parents with lived experience.

Birth during COVID-19: Women’s stories of maternity care through the pandemic

Healthwatch Lambeth spoke to women who gave birth at King's during lockdown. Focusing on their experiences of maternity care services during pregnancy, birth, and the early postnatal period.

Postnatal mental health: what support do fathers receive?

Investigating a father's experience in supporting their partner should she experience poor postnatal mental health. Lead author, Dr. Andrew Mayer, is an expert on maternal and paternal mental health. Visit his website.

The pandemic's effect on pregnant women and new mothers

Dr Catherine Mallouh, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, has been working with pregnant women and mothers. She describes the challenges women have faced while preparing or caring for a new baby.

Born in Lockdown

277 authors and one shared experience: becoming a new mother in 2020. A story born from a collaborative writing project set up by novelist Emylia Hall, the founder of Mothership Writers.

Zombiemum podcast

Writer and illustrator Laura Dockrill woke up on her first Mother’s Day in a psychiatric ward. Separated from her newborn, she didn't have a clue where she was. The diagnosis: postpartum psychosis. 

Since her experience, she’s been on a mission to uncover the psychological effects of bringing a small person into the world. And she's been smashing the stigmas associated with them. 

Each week Laura talks to guests, all with their own unique experience, for some heart-breaking, heart-warming, gut wrenching, generous, reassuring real talk. 

For women and families from different backgrounds and with different experiences - from maternal OCD to postpartum psychosis.

• Maternal Mental Health Alliance resources for perinatal mental health problems.
• Midwife-led Pregnancy Hub relating to mental health before, during and after pregnancy.
• Mind webpages on perinatal mental health.
• Perinatal Positivity: a short animated film about mental wellbeing difficulties around the time of pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. Translations and subtitled versions available.
• Mental health videos from the Baby Buddy app.
• Long read from DadPad: How can I best support my own and my partner’s perinatal mental health?
• Lambeth Parenting Support Service connects parents with support.
• Prosperitys birth companion services for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women living in Lambeth and Southwark. More information available on Prosperitys' Instagram and Twitter accounts.
• The Motherhood Group shares and supports the black maternal experience through events, workshops, peer support, projects and advocacy.
• #PNDHour is a weekly Twitter event on perinatal mental illness, led by a mother with lived experience. Every Wednesday at 8pm. 
  
• Parent tips from the Institute of Health Visiting.

Lambeth Talking Therapies Service 

Evidence-based psychological therapies, including for people with low mood or anxiety in pregnancy or the first year after birth.

Lambeth Perinatal Mental Health Team

A multidisciplinary service for pregnant and postnatal women with severe and complex mental illness.

LEAP Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

PAIRS is not a perinatal mental health service. It might be suitable for parents feeling:

• overwhelmed;
• lacking in confidence;
• struggling with new responsibilities;
• or having challenging feelings about themselves, their partner or their baby or toddler. 

If you have a parent in mind, PAIRS staff are happy to discuss if a referral would be appropriate.

Mental health crisis support for adults in Lambeth

Information from SLaM aimed at the general public.