My Blog

Yesterday I was honoured to be invited to speak to over 200 organisations who are supporters of the First 1001 Critical Days Manifesto.  It is 3 years since it began. Clair Rees asked me to give a brief talk on aspects we could celebrate, at a gathering in Westminster Central Hall, behind Westminster Cathedral  – photo by Raja.

After people assembled and chatted over drinks and mince pies, Clair welcomed everyone. She always inspires me and is the epitome of a people magnet and connector!

One of the trustees from PIP UK shared his passion for making early life as healthy as possible.  Then it was my turn. This is what I shared:-

“20 years ago the UK was in the grip of Mad Cow Disease; Braveheart won Oscars and Charles and Diana divorced.

20 years ago I was a first time mother who spiralled through postnatal depression into puerperal psychosis, culminating in walking the streets wearing just my nightdress. My life could have ended that night  – clearly it didn’t and I made a full recovery. I subsequently shared my story to break the stigma and taboo plus to offer hope to others. Back then society seemed to know little about postnatal illness, especially puerperal psychosis. I felt I was a lone voice.

20 years on we have much to celebrate under the umbrella of the First 1001 Critical Days. I am honoured and grateful to be part of a growing force of dedicated and passionate people about perinatal and infant mental health.

The first point to celebrate is that we are now ‘One Voice’.  Look around at us all. What an incredible network we have now. Relationships fuelled by Social Media and the media. The mutual support we offer each other at testing times is amazing. We are there because of key individuals. We have brought together charities, politicians, Royal colleges and experts with lived experience. The relevant professionals are now getting more training, having better awareness and growing teams around perinatal and infant mental health, e.g. The GP toolkit and the Institute of Health Visiting perinatal champion training. The silos are decreasing and the networks increasing.

Secondly, we now have a much wider implication of maternal mental health.  In the last three years we have seen the term perinatal now being used. This recognises that antenatal and birth are so important in mental health too.  It’s no longer just about the baby blues and postnatal depression. We are now far more aware of the generational cycles that needs to be changed; the impacts too due to birth trauma, bereavement and still-birth. Increasingly more knowledge and services are emerging to recognise and support infant mental health with the need for positive bonding and attachment. It is also evident that the fathers and partners mental health needs to be considered. At last we have the ‘Dads in the room’. We also need to be mindful of the siblings too. The notion of maternal mental health being ‘Everyone’s Business’ as highlighted by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance is so true. We also have the great work being done by the Wave trust 70/30 campaign to reduce child maltreatment.

Thirdly, we need to acknowledge and celebrate more and better services. We have increasing research, for example, that presented at the Marce Society, to base care and treatment on.  With services working in partnership and networks emerging, again we have progress. Due to the louder voice from our collaboration we are beginning to see more funding being approved. We have more Mother and Baby units now being planned. The trend for more training is definitely growing.

Why is all this important and why do I support the First 1001 Critical Days? Because I so easily could have become one of the mothers who did not survive and it breaks my heart to read about those who do not. Two years ago we were all saddened by the death of Charlotte Bevan and her baby who died in Bristol.  Then we have ladies like Jo Bingley who died under a train  – a nurse too scared to admit she was struggling. We even have the multi-millionaire singer Adele, apparently too scared to have another baby because fear of postnatal depression has become a contraceptive.  With support, this need not be the case.

On behalf of those families you already have helped and those you will do so in the future, thank you. Without people like you, people like me wouldn’t get well and get their lives back.

Those who look into the future predict that in 20 years Alzheimer’s disease will be curable and the bionic eye will surpass human vision. What if in 20 years perinatal mental health had the same parity of esteem with physical health in awareness and resources?  What if in 20 years infant mental health has parity of esteem with physical health in awareness and resources?

The First 1001 Critical Days of the First 1001 Critical Days has truly given us reasons to celebrate and acknowledge.

Just imagine what we can do in the next 1001 days.”

Thanks to Growing Families who took and Tweeted this photo of me.

Next we heard from the inspiration Dr Raja Gangopadhya, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. He spoke about the need for a true holistic approach to pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

A great addition was a Metropolitan Inspector Jack Rowlands who described why he is encouraging the force to be involved in First 1001 Critical Days. Why? Because in many of the deprived areas and where drug and alcohol abuse is rife, causes can be traced to infancy. If we make positive changes at that level, we have the power to reduce crime and increase health, happiness and the economy. He also shared how he encourages business who have funds to donate to charity, to send it this way. There is no better way to shape the future of our society. Excellent idea!

Next was Alain Gregoire, the perinatal psychiatrist who was one of the leading figures in bringing the Maternal Mental Health Alliance together. He urged us all to keep on with the great work.  Clair shared how she has been visited by representatives from over 30 other countries who are interested in the manifesto of the First 1001 Critical Days. We really are world leaders in this.

Finally we heard from Andrea Leadsom, MP.  She was the founder of this group.  It is a shame that she didn’t become Prime Minister to ensure that the manifesto of First 1001 Critical Days was mandatory! She vows to stay in politics until it is. Here she is with Raja.

It was enjoyable to catch up with many familiar faces.

Yes, there is much more work to be done. Yes, there needs to be changes to some systems. For example, I have chosen to be no longer part of a group where I was perceived to be there for ‘commercial gain’ because I wanted to mention my books, when I felt they could be useful ( even though I attended meetings for years with no payment).  Yes, we need to continue to work together and seek further funding.

Yesterday was about acknowledging how far we have come to motivate us to keep going.

I intend to do so!

Do you know a business that would be willing to help support the First 1001 Critical Days?

Who do you know in the police who could be put in touch with Jack, to do as he does in your area?

Elaine