Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week: Your voice your strength
The perinatal period brings significant change and can be a vulnerable and difficult time for mothers.
At least 1 in 5 women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first years after having a baby. According to a report by Westminster City Council, using 2021 census statistics, around 5,741 women living in Westminster are in the perinatal period at any one time. With roughly 1,435 (25%) likely to experience poor perinatal mental health.
Organised and led by Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK (PMHP UK), a member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, this year's Maternal Mental Health week theme focuses on “Your voice, your strength”.
The core goals of the campaign this week are as follows:
- raising public and professional awareness of maternal mental health problems
- advocating for women and families impacted
- changing attitudes
- helping people access the information, care and support they need to recover.
The PMHP UK will be focusing on the following daily themes this year:
- Monday: Conversations that matter - let's talk about maternal mental health
- Tuesday: Walking with you as you find your voice - supportive organisations
- Wednesday: World Maternal Mental Health Day - Stronger Together
- Thursday: Breaking the silence: Financial stress and Maternal Mental Health
- Friday: Perinatal Positivity Pot
- Saturday: Information for Impact for Healthcare Professionals
- Sunday: Reflect and rise
How to access local support:
- Explore the Kensington and Chelsea Perinatal Mental Health Team
- Find out more about the Westminster Perinatal Mental Health Team
- Read more about how to access support via the Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (North West London)
Share your views on local breastfeeding support
This month, the local authorities will be leading a focus group on breastfeeding on 20 May, for residents of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. The aim of the focus group is to listen to your experiences of breastfeeding and to improve services to support women.
For more information and if you would like to attend, please complete the registration form here.
