The speakers

Some things are worth waiting for and I hope that this belated report of a great event is one of them! Back on 11th January I had been invited to speak and chair ‘Perinatal Mental Health Services – Improving care for women and families.’  Jeanne Lythgoe, from Salford University had asked me and it was then organised by the efficient team at Salford CPD.

The first thing that I noticed was the excellent range of professionals on the delegate list. There were representatives, for example, from charities, such as The Smile Group, Anxiety UK and MIDIRS; university professors; researchers; midwives, clinical leads; students; specialist roles for perinatal services, domestic, drug and alcohol abuse plus child protection.  The audience certainly reflected the emerging push for perinatal services across families. Extra chairs were needed too as more people arrived on the day. Almost immediately there was a very positive buzz of conversation in the room.

After my opening introduction, the first speaker was Dr Angelika Wieck, consultant psychiatrist in Manchester. She described the national and local developments in perinatal mental health.

Other psychiatrists can be found here.

Harriet Clarke, senior programme manager of the RCP Perinatal project at the Royal College of Psychiatrists spoke next. Her talk was ‘Setting and raising standards: the Quality Network for Perinatal Mental Health Services. She described the quality improvement and accreditation processes used by the RCP for Perinatal Mental Health Services along with some of the impact of the network over the past 10 years. Harriet continued by sharing aggregated data collected from services across the UK – what do services do well and what are the areas for improvement.

After a break, we heard from Sue Rowlands, perinatal mental health midwife from Lancashire Teaching hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She described how she has addressed the perinatal mental health service in Preston and Lancashire. I fist met Sue when she was studying on the Salford University MSc Perinatal Mental Health course, where I presented my story and knowledge. Sue is a fantastic role model of how determination, along with learning and perseverance can make a real impact.

We then heard from Mia Cleary, consultant clinical psychologist and North CAPS (Children and Parents Service) team lead at North Manchester CAMHS. She told us about the parent and infant interventions offered by CAPS. One of their techniques involves VIG (Incredible Babies and Video Interaction Guidance).

After a networking lunch, Beckie Lang, National Perinatal Mental Health Project Manager, NCT Parents in Mind was next to speak. She informed delegates about the role of the NCT in peer support and their safe, effective and sustainable Parents in Mind approach. One of the pilot sites about to go live is close to me at Runcorn and Widnes. They are seeking people to be part of this. Beckie also shared how they will be evaluating the project.

Sadly our next speaker was unwell. Jane Hanley, immediate past president of the U.K. and Ireland Marce Society had intended to speak to delegates about the aims of the society. These are to promote, facilitate and communicate about research into all aspects of the mental health of women, their infants and partnered around the time of childbirth. This involves a broad range of research activities ranging from basic science through to health services research. I was able to encourage delegates to look at the website and to strongly consider membership.  Beckie and I also used the time for questions from the floor.

I was the penultimate speaker and decided to focus my talk around the key areas to be considered around considering another pregnancy after a perinatal mental illness. This is the theme of my latest book.

The final speaker was Michelle Cree, consultant clinical psychologist from The Beeches Perinatal Mental Health Service in Derby. She spoke about The Compassionate Mind Approach to Perinatal Distress. I had heard of her book and this was the first time I had really heard anything about the approach. I was impressed! She concluded the day for us by taking us all through an example of her techniques. I am very excited to be attending one of her workshops this week so I can learn more about it to pass onto other.

I was so very reluctant to have to draw the day to an end!

Judging by the full attendance right to the end, the delegates would appear to have agreed with me!

For the first main perinatal mental health conference of the year, I felt it was a great event. Every one of the speakers were inspiring and shared very useful knowledge.  I was recommend them all. Please so follow the links to their information.

I do hope that a similar event can be arranged again soon. Thank you Jeanne for inviting me; thank you to the efficient team at Salford CPD; thank you to the speakers for your inspiration and contribution and thank you to those who attended.

It certainly left me feeling very optimistic about perinatal mental health services as we begin 2017.

Please click to  the hashtag #PerinatalNW for photos and comments about the day.

In view of the RCOG report this week (summary below – please click to enlarge) we must continue to work together to improve maternal mental healthcare.

I would welcome the opportunity to chair and speak at any perinatal mental health events that you may be considering.

Elaine