23rd September 2016
The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) welcomes the innovative new mapping tool, launched online today by the National Lottery funded Mums and Babies in Mind project, to help professionals who are trying to transform perinatal mental health (PMH) services for mums with mental health problems during pregnancy or the first year after birth.
Using this unique mapping tool, professionals will be able to rate their local services against national standards to identify strengths and gaps where more work is needed. The tool has seven themed areas, which set out key standards for the different services and processes that should ideally exist in each local area. It also pulls out cross cutting themes, like support for new dads.
Dr Cheryll Adams, Executive Director iHV, said:
“The Institute of Health Visiting, a member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, is delighted to support the launch of this new mapping tool which will help local PMH leaders, many of whom are health visitors, to identify any concerns in their local PMH support systems and what they need to do to address them to ensure that every mum and her family get the support that they need.”
Between 10 and 20% of new mothers will experience a mental health problem. These women need support from a range of services, including GPs, midwives, health visitors and mental health services. Evidence shows that there are shocking gaps in services across the system. For example, there is no specialist mental health service in more than 40% of areas in England[1].
Dr Adams continued:
“We, at the iHV, are also extremely pleased that the new tool includes recommendations for iHV Champions and Specialist Health Visitors in every service, as well as mandatory training in PMH and IMH (infant mental health). This strengthens the work that the iHV has done and continues to deliver in PMH and IMH training and ensuring standards for health visitor professionals and the families they work with.”
Download and use the mapping tool: www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/mumsandbabiesinmind/mabim-tools
Explore new Mums and Babies in Mind online hub: www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/mumsandbabiesinmind
Read Sally Hogg’s blog on the MABIM mapping tool: www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/your-perinatal-mental-health-journey-how-we-can-help
—-ENDS —-
For further information
- Anna France-Williams, Senior Media and Communications Officer, Mums and Babies in Mind
- Julie Cooper, Communications and Marketing Manager, iHV
[email protected] 07508 344716
Notes to editors
About the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV)
- The Institute of Health Visiting is a UK Centre of Excellence supporting the development of universally high-quality health visiting practice. It was launched on 28 November 2012 to promote excellence in health visiting practice to benefit all children, families and communities.
- The aim for the iHV is to raise standards in health visiting practice, so improving public health outcomes for all children, families and communities.
- For more information go to ihv.org.uk
- Follow the Institute of Health Visiting on Twitter @iHealthVisiting and Facebook
- Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/readysteadymums and Twitter @ReadySteadyMums
- https://www.facebook.com/iHealthVisiting
About Mums and Babies in Mind
The Mums and Babies in Mind (MABIM) project is based in Blackpool, Haringey, Southend and Gloucestershire. We work with local leaders in these areas to improve services for mums with mental health problems during pregnancy and the first year after birth, and their babies. Mums and Babies in Mind is a Maternal Mental Health Alliance project, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. It lasts for three years, until September 2018.www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/mumsandbabiesinmind
Twitter @MMHAlliance #MABIM
About the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA)
The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is a coalition of national professional and patient organisations committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of women and their children in pregnancy and the first postnatal year. www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org Twitter @MMHAlliance
