A crucial new service is set to become a lifeline for expectant parents suffering from anxiety and mild depression ahead of the arrival of their baby.
Pregnancy in Mind has been launched by NSPCC Northern Ireland in a bid to reach mums-to-be, or partners, who may be struggling and this preventative service will try to ensure their mental health doesn't deteriorate to the point they need more focused and more significant intervention.
The service has already been operating in other regions of the UK since 2013 with the main objective being to help build parents’ capacity to provide sensitive and responsive care to their babies and to maintain these skills after the birth and as their children develop.
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Geraldine McConaghy, Team Manager at NSPCC Northern Ireland, is managing Pregnancy in Mind and told Belfast Live she was delighted to be launching the service after identifying a real need here.
"What the research told us was that there are identifiable benefits from offering the service, particularly in relation firstly to creating and developing a stronger bond between mum and baby, and secondly in lowering the mental health difficulties women were facing," she said.
"It is really a preventative service, what we are trying to do is ensure women's mental health doesn't deteriorate to the point they need more focused and more significant intervention from the perinatal mental health team or GPs, it is very much early stages of prevention to ensure we don't reach the stage women need greater input and also creating that stronger bond."
She added: "There is research which has identified that the attachment that mum and baby have is very much from conception right through and the stresses and strains of every day life will have an impact on that bond and the health of the baby if the women isn't given the support she needs."
Pregnancy in Mind is available for parents-to-be who are able to attend the six- session programme between 12 and 34 weeks of pregnancy and is delivered in small, virtual groups. It uses a range of approaches including mindfulness, active relaxation and peer support to help participants manage any difficulties they may be experiencing.
The main objective of the service is to help build parents’ capacity to provide sensitive and responsive care to their babies and to maintain these skills after the birth and as their children develop. Parents-to-be can refer themselves or they can be referred by their GP, midwife, health visitor or health professionals.
All those who take part will leave with knowledge of mindfulness and relaxation techniques to take forward into their new lives with their baby. They will also be given a support plan of how and where to access any further support that their family may benefit from and this plan will be tailored to each family’s individual needs.
Geraldine said that while for most women and partners, having a baby is a very exciting time, it can be triggering for others.
"Some women who might have experienced previous anxiety and depression, it can be retriggered with the pregnancy and what we are very keen to do is ensure women feel able to participate in the programme, that the stigma has lessened but is still around in relation to mental health doesn't get in the way of that and we can encourage women to come along and get the support they need," she said.
"Pregnancy is not always a very happy time for lots of women, the pregnancy may have been planned or unplanned or it may be as a result of abuse or it may not be. These are the dynamics that can impact how woman feels at that point in time."
It has been said the service, which launched in October, is particularly timely as so many people experienced stress and anxiety during the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis is putting a further strain on the mental health of many parents in Northern Ireland.
Geraldine said: "The pandemic resulted in mental health issues that we will probably know more about as the years go on in relation to how it impacted upon people and we are still coming out of the pandemic and life is starting to get back to normal but the supports that would have been available before may not necessarily be there in relation to groups that are available and supports for women.
"We know this service very much complements what is out there, we are not replacing anything, we are complementing what is available already via NHS and other voluntary and statutory groups."
She added: "One of the things we really want to try and promote is the idea of a self referral, that doesn't require a referral from GP, midwife or health visitor. That is happening and we have had referrals from those professionals and that is good and that is positive but a woman referring in her own right has that control and has made that decision herself and has been able to identify, I need some support here.
"A woman referring on her own is the best case scenario because she has identified for herself that she needs some support. A woman can ring or email us and we will follow up."
They are also promoting partner involvement, if they suffer anxiety or depression, and want the service to be as inclusive as possible, for those who need support before baby arrives.
Geraldine also said they needed to be available to those women who have suffered baby loss.
There will be an assessment of everyone referred and it will look at family life, pressures and may decide at the end that the group is not appropriate due to extra vulnerabilities and would do one to one with that person.
In session there will be a check in, mindfulness, active relaxation, work on baby brain development and the importance of attachment and bond with baby.
"It is very focused on relaxation and development skills to manage stress," said Geraldine.
"We will also enable women to talk about what it might be at this point in time that is causing them to feel particularly anxious."
They want to create an environment where women can feel free to talk about how they feel and will also create a Whatsapp group for peer support.
"This is an opportunity to gain support in relation to the stress and anxiety associated with pregnancy and also it is aimed to prevent anxiety and depression becoming more unmanageable. It is about supporting women to be able to manage how they feel in a different way and also to affirm the things they are doing at the moment to support themselves may be really positive and adding to that."
The service is being supported by the Department of Health through the Mental Health Support Fund, which is administered and managed by the Community Foundation Northern Ireland.
Gemma Winter, Antenatal Education Coordinator Midwife at Southern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “Alongside our Trust programmes, the Pregnancy in Mind service will help to empower people to seek help and be a responsive parent. However, the support does not stop after the course has ended as parents will feel better informed and equipped to find sources of help if they need it.
"It’s important to remember that you do not need to have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression to take part in the programme and I would encourage anyone, who thinks this may be beneficial to them, to speak to their midwife at the first booking interview and they can be directed to Pregnancy in Mind.”
Dearbhla McAleenan, Specialist Health Visitor for Infant and Perinatal Mental Health, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, added: “We know that the impact of perinatal mental health difficulties can be wide ranging and for pregnant mothers experiencing or at risk of mild to moderate mental health needs, Pregnancy in Mind will play a huge role in supporting parents-to-be at a crucial time in their parenting journey.
"Pregnancy in Mind will also greatly support infant mental health in the region as the programme focuses on supporting the relationship between parents and their unborn babies from the earliest days of infant brain development. Without early identification and appropriate support, the difficulties associated with maternal anxiety or depression can significantly affect the mental health and development of infants and children.
"The provision of Pregnancy in Mind means that participants in this programme will have access to evidence based, tailored support that will help to prevent potential problems arising, in keeping with Northern Ireland’s Infant Mental Health Framework.
“I am delighted this programme will now be on offer in Northern Ireland as it will be an invaluable addition to the work currently carried out by healthcare professionals, community and voluntary agencies who are caring for mums, babies and families in the perinatal period. This will help in building resilience and empowering families to look after their mental health during pregnancy and beyond.”
For more information on NSPCC’s Pregnancy in Mind Service, please contact nihubadmin@nspcc.org.uk or call 028 20441 650.
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