Innovative Project Aims to Improve Mental Health of New Mums in Falkirk

Posted by See Me, 21 January 2016

NEW and expectant mums in Falkirk don’t know where to go to get help if they are struggling with their mental health, according to the organisers of a new project.

Penumbra wants to improve mental health for new mothers and their partners by improving wellbeing and tackling stigma, through pregnancy and up to a year after the birth.

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health problems women experience during pregnancy. Postnatal depression affects 10 to 15 in every new 100 mothers. It is a serious illness that can leave mothers feeling unable to cope, anxious and sometimes hopeless.

During this time issues around self-stigma can be common, with mothers thinking they aren’t good enough for their baby. Additionally, when women do want to get help, they may not know where to turn.

Now Penumbra is now looking to improve the help and support people get. The Perinatal Mental Health Project has been funded by See Me to improve access to services and challenge the stigma that surrounds perinatal mental health conditions.

Part of the work involves mums creating artwork to express how they feel about their mental health.

William Wright, from Penumbra, said: “Those affected by perinatal mental health conditions can be stigmatised by wider society or family members, this can have a negative impact on the mums mental health and wellbeing.  Self-stigma also exists, whereby the mum internalises her worries and anxieties for fear of being judged as a bad mum for feeling low or depressed.

“The Perinatal Mental Health Project looks at raising awareness around pregnancy and mental health in the Falkirk area. 

“We are aware that mums may be experiencing any kind of mental health problem in pregnancy and do not know where to go; and likewise, we are aware that partners too can suffer and do not know where to go. 

“We hope that both mums and partners will benefit from meeting with other people with the same lived experience, gain knowledge on maintaining their own wellbeing and knowledge of national and local resources for help and support in the communities that they live in.”

Judith Robertson, See Me programme director, said: “Too many new and expectant mothers feel alone and don’t know where to turn if they are struggling with their mental health.

“It’s okay not to be okay, but when someone is struggling, particularly at a time when people think they should be happy, it can lead to feelings of guilt.

“This project can help tackle the self-stigma people experience, showing them they aren’t alone and there are people they can talk to.”

Penumbra are running free workshops and drop in sessions on wellbeing around Falkirk in January and are holding a Perinatal Mental Health event in February. Contact william.wright@penumbra.org.uk for more information.