NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) Mental Health Improvement Team has won a fourth UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) Innovation in Public Health Award. The team, which is hosted by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has won four awards in the five years that the awards have been in existence (two awards in 2018 as well as an award in 2022 and 2023).

The awards offer practitioners and their colleagues and employers throughout the UK the opportunity to gain recognition for their work in improving public health and reducing inequalities. 

The team won the ‘Translating Evidence Into Practice – The Allison Thorpe Award’ and was shortlisted in ‘The Best Social Media Campaign Award’ category at this year’s UK-wide award ceremony

The Allison Thorpe Award was for their work on Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Perinatal Mental Health Research. They’re delighted that they have a Tree for Life planted in the Caledonian forest in recognition of their work.

The research project explores the experiences of their Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Network partners in engaging with BAME women and their families, during the perinatal period, to support mental health and wellbeing. While the perinatal period can be a vulnerable time for all women, research highlights that BAME women are at greater risk of developing mental health problems. Their vulnerability is increased by additional factors of culture and ethnicity, stigma attached to mental health, language barriers and lack of awareness of support.

The research led to the Network creating the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Good Practice Guide - September 2023 – NHSGGC to ensure services are more inclusive and are culturally sensitive for the needs of BAME women. The report and recommendations can be accessed at BAME Final Report.pdf (scot.nhs.uk)

Heather Sloan, Health Improvement Lead, Mental Health said: “I’m extremely proud of the work of the team and the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Network members for the work they do to support mothers during the perinatal period. In particular, the BAME research and subsequent actions will go some way to reducing health inequalities for BAME women during pregnancy and the first 12 months of infancy.” 

Michelle Guthrie, Health Improvement Senior and Chair of Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Network said: “Our Network has been instrumental in driving forward this agenda across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to ensure that not only those from protected group, but all new and expectant parents get the right support at the right time for their mental health and wellbeing during the perinatal period.”