Child Health and Wellbeing Network Huddle showcasing regional findings on maternal mental health

In February the North East and North Cumbria Child Health and Wellbeing Network hosted a Huddle webinar on Social Prescribing and Perinatal Mental Health. Huddle attendees enjoyed a lively discussion with over 60 people across the region, and nationally, in attendance.

The event was chaired by Professor Judith Rankin, Professor of Maternal and Child Health at Newcastle University’s Population Health Sciences Institute who was joined for a panel discussion by Laura Seebohm from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance and Dr Guy Pilkington, Chair of Ways to Wellness.

Presentation on Designing Accessible Maternal Mental Health Services

The event saw presentations from Dr Lem Ngongalah, Faculty Fellow in the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University, and Ang Broadbridge who is Ways to Wellness’ VCSE Maternal Mental Health Project Manager.

Lem’s presentation shared findings from Designing Accessible Maternal Mental Health Services: The MaMS Study. The study was developed to inform the design of accessible maternal mental health services for women experiencing disadvantage in the North East and North Cumbria. Lem’s presentation set the scene for the Huddle discussion in exploring the barriers and facilitators to maternal mental health service access. This study will help identify means by which maternal and mental healthcare services can reach women who do not frequently access statutory healthcare services, and strategies from non-healthcare service providers which can improve access for these women.

Presentation of Ways to Wellness’ Prototypes

Ang’s presentation which you can read here shares findings from Ways to Wellness’ Maternal Mental Health prototypes project highlighting the value of social prescribing for new Mums experiencing mild to moderate mental health needs in the first 1001 days of an infant’s life. The evaluation of the prototype has found this to be a low cost, high value preventative support, showing early signs of reducing demand in health and care system for short and long term healthcare and being based in the VCSE brings multiple benefits for families as highlighted in quotes from health professionals shared in Ang’s presentation.

What health professionals think about social prescribing link work

Feedback from community mental health team:

“Because the link worker has sorted so many of the practical and financial concerns I can really help [patient] to focus on treatment now”

Feedback from Head of Midwifery:

"This is the gaping chasm gap, women who need that extra bit of support...and the midwives don't have the capacity to be able to deliver the one to one or group working that's required."

What Mums say about link worker support

Ang highlighted the benefits to Mums and babies as well as the extended family sharing quotes from some of the women who have benefited from link worker support:

‘’You are the first person to actually ask about me and not the babies. I love them, but no one seems to think about me and what I might want. Everyone just thinks because the babies are well, I should be happy. Which of course I am, but I want someone to care how I’m doing’’

Panel discussion

The Huddle ended with an energetic panel discussion of the added value of social prescribing link work in working alongside statutory provision (in this case midwives, health visitors and community and perinatal mental health in particular).

The discussion saw keen interest in the challenge of spread and sustainability of these approaches. There was a strong consensus that early years investment such as this leads to lifelong improvements in outcomes both for parents and for infants as well as the wider family unit.

For more information

The Maternal Mental Health Prototypes will report in short course on its final evaluation, to keep in contact with this work please contact Ang Broadbridge: ang.broadbridge@waystowellness.org.uk

Colleagues from all areas of Child Health and Wellbeing can register via this form so they are included in Child Health and Wellbeing Network communications and feed into the workplan projects that they are interested in.