Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

May 1 - May 7 is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. This week aims to get people talking about mental health before, during and after pregnancy. This year the theme is 'Together In A Changing World' and each day of the Awareness Week will have its own unique focus. Our Specialist Perinatal Service and Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS) have put together information and resources on each of the daily themes below. Jump to a section using the links below:

You can find out more about the Specialist Perinatal Service here: Perinatal CMHT | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk). You can contact the PETALS service on 0161 271 0188 (option 4), Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Monday: Starting the conversation about perinatal mental health

We can all struggle with our mental health at any time, but during pregnancy and up to a year after birth (also known as the perinatal period) can be a particularly difficult time. Around 20% of women/birthing people experience mental health difficulties during the perinatal period. However, we know that the majority of new parents may struggle to name, explain, or talk about these experiences. This can make it understandably difficult to reach out, and means many people may struggle to ask for support that could really make a difference. It’s not surprising that we are more likely to struggle at this time. We are undergoing massive changes in our lives: our routines, relationships and priorities are likely to shift. Our hormones rapidly rise and fall, impacting our mood, energy levels and our awareness of threat. We are likely to have all sorts of new worries that come with a new baby; we might feel unsupported, have worries about work or money, or be unsure about the future. On top of this, we now have a baby to look after as well as ourselves.

Some of the difficulties we can experience are:

Feeling low
Intrusive thoughts
Changes in appetite
Hypervigilance (overly looking/checking for danger or threat)
Feeling anxious
Changes in sleep
Changes in body image
Not enjoying the things you used to enjoy
Paranoid thoughts
Feeling isolated

These experiences are really common during this time period. Talking to someone about how we’re feeling can help us to feel less alone, and can be the first step to accessing further support if we need it.

For some people, the pregnancy, birth, or neonatal period can be experienced as traumatic. This could be due to physical complications, negative experiences of healthcare, or decisions around the birth and feeling a lack of control during this difficult period. In other cases, this might involve the loss of the pregnancy or baby. Understandably, these experiences can be incredibly difficult and can have a lasting impact on a person. The stages of grief or processing of trauma can naturally take time. Starting the conversation about perinatal mental health.

Ordinarily, our brains process and “time-stamp” memories so that we recall them as being a past event – distinct from the here and now, stored appropriately. Like a tidy, well-organised linen closet. When experiences are traumatic, this processing can go awry; the memories may not get time-stamped and stored correctly. Like a disorganised linen closet, the doors can spring open and the linen spill out. This can lead to some post-traumatic symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, avoidance, or dissociation from emotions.

It can be difficult to talk about mental health difficulties under any circumstances. Perinatal mental health experiences can be especially difficult to share with others, particularly when we have the perception that other parents are coping. We may think we are expected to only feel joy and love when we have a new baby, however everybody will experience a range of different emotions. We hope Maternal Mental Health Awareness week can help us to start conversations, connect with others, and show more compassion to ourselves.

Download this information in a poster: Monday MMHW Poster 2504.pdf [pdf] 454KB

Tuesday: Shining the Spotlight on Support

It can be hard to know where to turn to when we’re struggling, but accessing support during and after the perinatal journey can help. Feeling cared for can help us to access our brain’s soothing system and reduce distress. There are lots of sources of support available within Greater Manchester. Watch this video on the Greater Manchester Perinatal Partnership:

Specialist Perinatal Service

The Specialist Perinatal Service supports women and birthing people during pregnancy and up to a year after giving birth across Greater Manchester. Support from our team is offered to people who are experiencing moderate-severe mental health problems in the perinatal period, and also for those with a past or family history of severe mental health difficulties. People who we support might have a pre-existing mental health condition which has worsened or might have developed new mental health difficulties. Our team offers support for you to manage and recover from your mental health difficulties, and we work with other services to help you to access the right help. If you meet with our team, we will think together about what might be helpful. This could include advice (e.g. for medication during pregnancy), home visits, or psychological therapy. Our team also offers preconception advice for people who might be more likely to become unwell in the perinatal period, for example for those with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Professionals can refer online here: Perinatal CMHT | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk)

Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS)

People may understandably experience distress and trauma due to their perinatal experience. The Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS) is a psychologically led service offering assessment and therapeutic support to people experiencing trauma symptoms directly related to their perinatal journey. PETALS supports people who have experienced: We provide the space and opportunity to share your story and we work collaboratively with you to understand together the impact this is having. You have a say in the care you receive and we work flexibly, drawing on a range of evidence-based therapies to support you to move towards your goals. If you would like more information, we’re always happy to chat. You can reach us on 0161 271 0188 (option 4).

The GMMH 24/7 Helpline

You can call our free 24/7 mental health crisis helpline for all ages on 0800 953 0285. The helpline is here to help our service users, carers, and people living in the areas we serve. If you are worried or anxious about your mental health or feeling as though you are in a mental health crisis and need urgent support and help, please don't hesitate to call. The mental health crisis helpline is also there for you if you are concerned about a loved one, neighbour, friend or family member. It is open all day and night, 365 days per year and it is free of charge.

Download this information in a poster: Tuesday MMHW Poster 2504 (1).pdf [pdf] 125KB

Wednesday: World Maternal Mental Health Day #StrongerTogether

“The worst thing about having poor mental health is feeling like you’re the only one who feels like that. Realising that other people feel the same as you makes you feel less isolated and ashamed when you’re struggling”

- Christie Sherratt (Peer Support Worker, Specialist Perinatal Service)

Peer Support

Peer support workers are people with lived experience of perinatal mental health difficulties and have been through their own recovery journey. They can be a person to speak to who understands your experience because they have been through something similar themselves, and whilst they will not know exactly how you feel, they may be able to relate to some of the emotions and feelings that you have. Peer support workers can help you to develop a compassionate relationship with yourself, as they know what it can feel like to struggle and know that you are trying your best. At times it may feel like things won’t get better, but peer support workers can help inspire hope by showing that it is possible to feel better along your journey. Sometimes it can be hard for family and friends to understand or know what to say to you and this can lead to feelings of isolation so peer support can help you to feel more connected and less alone. Within the Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS; 0161 271 0188, option 4) we have strong links with peer support organisations such as Finding Rainbows and Dad Matters. Within the Specialist Perinatal Services (0161 271 0188/ www.gmmh.nhs.uk/perinatal-community/) we have a dedicated peer support worker who is committed to helping individuals connect with their community.

“It takes a village to raise a child”

This wonderful saying beautifully captures how an entire community of people are helpful when bringing a child into the world. Historically, new mothers were helped to raise their children within a tribe. They would learn the skills from mothers, grandparents, sisters and friends in a network of social support and help. The whole community would take on the responsibility of caring for the parent and baby. In our modern society there tends to be more of a focus on the individual rather than seeing people as a group. Therefore, there is still often a belief that parenting is an individual task that is instinctive for everyone. It is incredibly important for the whole family to feel supported and cared for. The business of modern life can make it difficult for parents to feel connected to others. Therefore, it is understandable if you have experienced this and are struggling. It comes as no surprise that research shows that lack of social support and connection is one of the biggest predictors of post-natal depression. In the presence of trauma or loss, there is also strong body of evidence to suggest that social support and professional support can have a hugely positive impact on recovery. Reaching out after having a baby or suffering from a trauma or loss is not an easy thing to do. However, as we have seen the benefits from doing this are extensive. Perinatal services and PETALS recognise the bravery it takes to reach out and can support referrals and signposting to other services to help you overcome any barriers to further support. If you as an individual or in community know somebody who has just had a baby or suffered from a trauma or loss, we hope this poster encourages you to reach out and offer support if you can.

Download this information in a poster: Wednesday - World Maternal Mental Health Day StrongerTogether 2504.pdf [pdf] 56KB

Thursday: Healthcare professionals hub to support healing

Working as a healthcare professional can be incredibly rewarding. However, sometimes the nature of this may mean that you feel overwhelmed with emotions following discussions with the people you’re offering support to. We are all human, and so we feel things like being overwhelmed and distressed just like the people you’re offering support to. We also have our own past experiences and life circumstances that may impact us.

Secondary Traumatic stress – this is where a healthcare professional will experience trauma reactions from hearing about first hand trauma regularly. Although these reactions are natural responses to trauma, they can be incredibly debilitating and difficult to live with.

Compassion fatigue – this relates to emotional and physical exhaustion, or burnout from your role. You may feel angry, frustrated, upset. You may notice you are finding it harder to be empathetic or compassionate for others due to feeling so exhausted and overwhelmed. Compassion fatigue can dampen your job satisfaction and make it harder to work in line with your values. These feelings often make a lot of sense when you acknowledge the pressure you’re under at work.

Both of these are common amongst healthcare professionals, and can impact on both your work and personal life. It is important to be aware of this when supporting clients and notice when we may need to activate our soothing system. Some activities such as the ones below may help you to activate your soothing system and allow you to recuperate and disengage from work. Remember it is important to take time for yourself, as we can’t pour from an empty cup.

Mindfulness of the breath: Mindfulness exercises can help you take a moment to connect to the present moment. Breathing also helps us to feel more relaxed and calm. One way you can ensure you are breathing deeply is to lie down, put an object (e.g., hot water bottle, pillow etc.) on your tummy and as you breathe in, watch the object moving upwards, and as you breathe out, watch the object moving downward.
Connect Socially: Connect with friends, family, community groups and work colleagues for social support and contact. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, as well as give your life meaning, emotional support and an outlet for times when you may be struggling.
Take regular breaks at work and at home: When working in busy services and supporting clients it is easy to become overwhelmed with your workload and not eat lunch or even drink fluids. Taking some time away from your workspace such as going out for a walk, getting something to eat and drink and taking time to connect with others can help refocus your mind and fuel your body. Boundaries - It can feel difficult to say no to overtime or working an extra few hours to help your team out. Unfortunately, this can lead people to become burnt out and overwhelmed. Therefore, prioritising your own needs as much as possible with your boundaries is important to protect your own health and well-being, ensuring you are observing your own limits.

Within PETALS (0161 271 0188- option 4) and Specialist Perinatal Services (0161 271 0188) we work hard to ensure that our teams feels safe, supported and looked after. Internally we offer supervision, training and reflective practice. Externally we offer consultations to other healthcare professionals such as midwifes and neonatal colleagues etc. Within PETALS we also offer support and consultations to staff that may have experienced secondary traumatic stress through supporting women and birthing people who are been affected by perinatal trauma and loss. If you feel you need support, PAM Assist provides confidential support and is available for GMMH employees. To contact PAM Assist, employees can telephone 0800 882 4102 or, line managers can make a referral on their behalf.

Download this information in a poster: Thursday - Healthcare professionals’ hub to support healing 2504.pdf [pdf] 77KB

Friday: Perinatal positivity pot

illustration of glass jar with green hearts inside with positive messages written on them Compassionate Reframing

When we are struggling, it can feel like we are the only ones feeling like this. This can leave us feeling alone with these experiences, perhaps feeling ashamed and blaming ourselves for the way we feel. It can help to know these feelings arise through no fault of our own, and it can be helpful to try and see our difficult experiences through a more compassionate lens.

Soothing Breathing

Soothing Breathing is a powerful way to support your mind and body & to activate the part of the brain responsible for soothing us. This can help to increase your ability to tolerate difficult emotions.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a skill to help you pay attention in the present moment whilst letting go of evaluation or judgement. It is not about trying to get rid of thoughts or emotions, or ‘emptying our minds’, as is so commonly thought. Instead, it is about starting to notice where our mind is and, gently, bringing it to awareness of the present moment. For example, noticing where our mind is and then trying to bring our mind to what we can see or hear around us.

Grounding

In times of distress, our brains tend to disengage from the environment around us, which can make us feel detached from what is happening. Grounding is a self-soothing technique that can help to keep us in the present moment and reorient you to the here and now.

Butterfly Hug: This is a simple grounding technique that can help to bring you back to here and now and to reduce the intensity of emotions
- 1. Cross both arms over your chest and place each hand on your shoulder. Breathe.
- 2. Gently begin tapping each hand one at a time on your arms. Tap for 10 counts. Pause and take a deep breath.
- 3. Continue tapping your arms until you feel more relaxed.

For more resources and activities, please visit: www.compassionatemind.co.uk

Download this information in a poster: Friday - Positivity Pot 2504.pdf [pdf] 133KB

Saturday: Support for all families

Every Family Has a Culture

When supporting those affected by perinatal mental health difficulties, we recognise the importance of involving and supporting people most important to them. That's why there are services to support everyone, recognising that everyone may perceive and experience difficulties in different ways depending on their unique identity, experiences, cultural beliefs and preferences.

Losing a baby, either during or after birth, is one of the most painful experiences a parent will ever endure. This can have a deep and lasting impact on mental health.

PETALS (Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service) 0161 0161 271 0188 (option 4) Mon-Fri 9-5 PETALS is a psychologically led service offering assessment and therapeutic support to people experiencing trauma symptoms directly related to perinatal loss or their perinatal journey (i.e. birth trauma, neonatal trauma, baby loss ). PETALS also supports people experiencing significant fear related to pregnancy, childbirth, foetal medicine, hospital or medical settings which is significantly impacting on decisions around reproduction and preventing a person from taking steps towards pregnancy. Referral: Any healthcare professional can refer you to our service

Finding Rainbows - This charity offers Peer Support to anyone who has suffered the loss of a baby, child or through early pregnancy loss. More information: Charity Organisation, UK | Finding Rainbows

Tommy's - This charity offers support to partners following loss of a baby. More information: Together, for every baby - Charity for Babies | Tommy's (tommys.org)

Research shows us that around 20% of women experience mental health difficulties during perinatal period. We know that women from Black, Asian, and ethnic minorities are even at a higher risk of experiencing difficulties during this time.

Specialist Perinatal Service 0161 271 0188 The Specialist Perinatal Service supports women who experience mental health difficulties during and after pregnancy, and up to one-year postnatally. The team will work to provide assessment, care and treatment including; the prevention, detection and management of maternal mental health problems. Referral: Any healthcare professional can refer you to our service via the link below. www.gmmh.nhs.uk/perinatal-community/

Dad Matters - More information: Dad Matters – Supporting Dads in Greater Manchester to have the best possible relationships with their families.

Proud 2 b Parents - Inclusive organisation for all routes to parenthood. We are run by and deliver services for LGBT+ parents/ carers. More information: Proud 2 b Parents

Download this information in a poster: Saturday - Support for all Families 2504.pdf [pdf] 462KB

Sunday: Recap and reflect

Accessing support during and after the perinatal journey can help. Feeling cared for can help us to access our brain’s soothing system and reduce distress. There are lots of sources of support available within Greater Manchester. You can find out more about the Specialist Perinatal Service at www.gmmh.nhs.uk/perinatal-community/

Mindfulness exercises can help you connect to the present moment and breathing can us feel relaxed and calm. One way you can ensure you are breathing deeply is to lie down, put an object (e.g. pillow) on your tummy and as you breathe in, watch the object moving upwards, and as you breathe out, watch the object moving downwards.

When supporting those affected by perinatal mental health difficulties, we recognise the importance of involving and supporting people most important to them. Organisations:

Finding Rainbows - Charity Organisation, UK | Finding Rainbows
Tommy's - Together, for every baby - Charity for Babies | Tommy's (tommys.org)
Dad Matters - Dad Matters – Supporting Dads in Greater Manchester to have the best possible relationships with their families.
Proud 2 b Parents

Download this information in a poster: Sunday - Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2504.pdf [pdf] 44KB

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 | News and Events

Search the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT website