Statistics show that one in five women are affected by mental health problems during pregnancy and the first year after birth. This includes mental illness existing before pregnancy, as well as illnesses that develop for the first time, or are greatly exacerbated in the perinatal period. These illnesses can be mild, moderate or severe, requiring different kinds of care or treatment, from third sector organisations to more specialist services like the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Perinatal Service. 

The NHSGGC Perinatal and Infant Mental Health network is a multi-disciplinary collaborative working together to create pathways of mental health support for new and expectant parents. 

Michelle Guthrie, Health Improvement Senior from NHSGGC’s Mental Health Improvement Team, which is hosted by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, is Chair of the NHSGGC Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Network.

Michelle said: “To help strengthen connections between third sector partners and clinical colleagues from the NHSGGC Perinatal Service, three Conversation Workshops took place in March, May and December 2022. Organised with Helen Sloan, Nurse Consultant and Dr Ashleigh Macaulay, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist (Perinatal Service) the workshops were extremely positive for both participants and staff from the Perinatal Service.”

The aims of the workshops were to:

• increase our third sector partners’ understanding and awareness of the services provided by the Perinatal Service, referral criteria and pathways
• increase the Perinatal Service Team’s awareness and understanding of third sector and the mental health support they provide during the perinatal period
• to enhance collaborative working between clinical and third sector partners to provide smooth pathways of support for mums, babies and families affected by perinatal mental illness. 

Michelle continued: “It’s often the simple things that provide the greatest return and the Conversation Workshops are a prime example. The workshops provided a safe and informal space for clinical and third sector partners to come together to acknowledge each other’s expertise and explore ways of working, to ensure all new and expectant parents get the right mental health support, at the right time. Both groups expressed how the workshops brought a personal touch, allowed staff to put faces to services and helped to build a connection between clinical and community perinatal mental health supports.”

Dr Ashleigh Macaulay, Perinatal Consultant Psychiatrist said: “The workshops have been a great way to interact with services who provide invaluable support to women, babies and families during the perinatal period. The format we used was an informal way to introduce our team, start conversations, build connections and start to collaborate moving forward.”

Due to their success further Conversation Workshops will be taking place during 2023. You can read the case study.

For more information please contact michelle.guthrie@ggc.scot.nhs.uk