28th September 2015
Newly acquired programme to promote mums’ physical health and emotional wellbeing
A new iHV survey of health visitors shows:
- 99% say it is important for health visitors to encourage mothers to take part in physical activity
- 99% of health visitors say exercise can help maternal wellbeing and reduce mild/moderate postnatal depression
- 73% of health visitors say in the communities where they work, there is a lack of safe, accessible and free opportunities for mothers to be physically active
- 96% of health visitors say there should be more support for mothers wanting to take exercise
The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) has acquired Ready Steady Mums (RSM), a national network of community activity groups for mothers. The new programme offers health visitors a proven tool to help mothers overcome feelings of isolation and depression, while also improving their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
The programme consists of local groups where mothers meet to exercise together, such as in a park or community centre. The groups are started by a mother, with support from their health visitor, and many of the suggested exercises include a pushchair, offering mums the opportunity to participate in a social and exercise activity which includes their children.
Recent research by the charity Action for Children identified that a quarter (24%) of British parents feel lonely and isolated, regularly cut off from friends and other sources of support. Health visitors play a key role in promoting sustainable family health and wellbeing in communities.
New research by the iHV shows that 96% of health visitors believe there should be more support for mothers wanting to take regular exercise, however, 66% of them do not have the capacity to provide that support. They often report that they wish to do more about issues such as postnatal depression and Ready Steady Mums will provide them with a simple but effective programme to increase their effectiveness and reduce/prevent such illness.
Bringing more mums together for gentle exercise and socialising can make a huge difference during the days and weeks after birth. Research shows that new mums that take regular exercise and/or socialise in the months after their baby’s birth are less likely to experience perinatal depression.
Existing Ready Steady Mums groups have proven to have a profound impact on maternal health, wellbeing and community cohesion. Mothers who meet weekly with their babies and children report improved physical and mental health and the development of valuable friendships. Many group leaders are touched by the positive feedback they receive from other mothers in their walking groups, despite initial reservations, giving mothers a new sense of identity and confidence. Many groups start off (and may stay) as walking groups before starting other types of physical activity or full-on exercise – so there is very low barrier for mums to get started.
Katy Tuncer, Founder of Ready Steady Mums and mother of three boys, said: “Ready Steady Mums is all about empowering mothers to take a lead in supporting other local mothers and families. I am delighted that we have the support of the Institute of Health Visiting to continue to build our offerings for mothers and achieve even more significant results.”
Dr Cheryll Adams, Executive Director of the Institute of Health Visiting, said: “Ready Steady Mums is a great programme as it provides the social and community support that many health visitors find missing, while also promoting health. Ready Steady Mums will be used by health visitors to encourage mums to get together socially, while building exercise into their everyday routine.”
She added: “Ready Steady Mums demonstrates how health visiting can contribute to community development on a mass scale. This is great news for health visiting but also for local communities and for local authorities who are responsible for improving community health.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Health Visitors Survey into mums’ physical exercise
- Survey carried out 20-24 September 2015
- Survey sent to Institute of Health Visiting membership
- 653 respondents
- 99% of health visitors say it is important to encourage mothers to take part in physical activity
- 99% of health visitors say that exercise can help maternal wellbeing and reduce mild/moderate postnatal depression
- 73% of health visitors say there is insufficient provision of safe, accessible and free opportunities for mothers to be physically active where they work
- 66% of health visitors do not have the capacity to support mothers into regular exercise
- 96% of health visitors say there should be more support for mothers wanting to take exercise
