UPDATE: Recruitment of participants for this study is now closed. Thank you to everyone who kindly took part. We look forward to seeing the findings.

The role of relationships in Postpartum Psychosis (unusual experiences during the postpartum period)

• Have you been given a diagnosis of Postpartum Psychosis (puerperal psychosis)? 
• Would you be willing to talk about your relationships with important people in your life in relation to these experiences? 

I am a trainee clinical psychologist at Lancaster University and I am currently carrying out research into the experiences of women who have lived through a period of mental distress after childbirth, and their significant others. I want to learn about the role of relationships during and after this experience. I hope that my findings will help staff in Mother-and-Baby units to work with the families and friends of women and continue to improve the services that women receive.

I would like to talk to women who have experienced Postpartum Psychosis and someone important to them (you can choose who this is – perhaps it could be a partner, mother, sibling or friend?) Both of you would need to be 18 years old or over. If you fit the above criteria and are interested in sharing your experiences, please contact me to find out more.

Read the patient information sheet here»

Caroline Wyatt
Tel: 0785 251 6566
Email: c.wyatt@lancaster.ac.uk

Specialist Mental Health Midwives have a crucial role in effective perinatal mental health care. However, there are currently many maternity services without this important position, and where Specialist Mental Health Midwives do exist there are differences in their role, skills and experience.

This document produced by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance aims to help address this gap, by explaining why Specialist Mental Health Midwives are needed, and what they do. It is intended as a resource for maternity managers and commissioners looking to introduce or strengthen the Specialist Mental Health Midwife role in their local service. We hope that it will aid discussions and lead to improvements in local provision.

Read or download the full document here>

Eight volunteers with lived experience of PP came together from across the UK to attend a Peer Support workshop on 12th Oct. The day was momentous, memorable and a success on many levels. It was a real pleasure to meet and work with so many passionate and dedicated people. Thank you to everyone who gave up their free time and made the big effort to attend. We’re proud and grateful to further expand our PPTalk team with such a wonderful, inspirational group of volunteers! (more…)

For a study on the economic consequences of maternal mental health problems during the perinatal period conducted by PSSRU/LSE and Centre for Mental Health

As part of the Everyone's Business Campaign, London School of Economics (LSE) and Centre for Mental Health are to publish a report looking at the 'Economic Consequences of Maternal Mental Health Problems in the Perinatal Period'.

As a first step in this work, LSE & Centre for Mental Health have just issued a call for any information in this area, and in particular:

• National and International studies which measure the outcomes of individuals exposed to perinatal mental health problems - including mothers, children and their partners.
• Evidence on the (cost-) effectiveness of interventions or information about the cost of running a specific intervention.
• Information about any other relevant studies that you are aware of.

(more…)

Bipolar UK and APP staged a ‘Pregnancy and Childbirth Workshop’ for women with bipolar on September 20^th.

More than two dozen women and two husbands attended the workshop held at the charity’s headquarters in Victoria, London, to discuss the often difficult decisions women with bipolar face when considering pregnancy.

(more…)

Great news for women in the South West: Cornwall gets its first perinatal mental health service - read this piece by Esmé Ashcroft in local paper The West Briton.

Pregnancy support group is NHS first for Cornwall

CORNWALL'S first mental health service aimed at helping women before, during and after pregnancy was launched on Monday thanks to support from a local charity.

With the help of the Angela Harrison Charitable Trust, the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust launched the county's first perinatal mental health team to help women across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The new service supports women who have had previous experience or newly developed moderate to severe mental health needs, during and after pregnancy.

The perinatal mental health team aims to speed up the diagnosis of mental instability so women can be given support and help as early as possible. (more…)