Mental Health Awareness Day 2020

My Birthday every year falls on the same day as Mental Health Awareness Day. 

This year, I think it's important to shout about the people who, like me, have given birth in the middle of a pandemic. Saying 'hello' to our sleep thieves should be a time filled with fun, joy laughter and family. 

This year though, for many of us, that's simply not the case. We gave birth / are pregnant at a time when the support services simply don't exist in the forms we've been used to over the past decade.

Maternity services are stretched to the limit. With staff desperately trying to juggle what they know is best for their patients, with the conflicting demands of running services in the midst of a highly contagious virus pandemic. Inevitably, they can't please everyone. Like all our NHS services, they're having to make decisions based on keeping themselves and the wider population safe, which isn't always what new Mums want or need.

We are in uncharted territory, but, realistically, we are asking already underfunded mental health services to cope and respond with the increased demand.  Reports around the media suggest as many as 1 in 5 new Mams develop a mental health issue either during pregnancy or in the year after birth. The RCOG notes that depression and anxiety are the most common disorders. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the issue.  Hospital restrictions on antenatal appointments, birth partners and visiting, all designed and implemented to minimise risk and possible transmission of the virus can lead to feelings of isolation and insecurity.

Post-birth, the shift from face-to-face to online / text / phone services has also had an impact. Both in terms of the professional health services, and more general support. No face to face baby groups means no meeting new friends. No other Mam interaction. Zoom and Messenger can only replace so much.

The restrictions on visits from family and friends is both a blessing and a curse for many. Whilst the lack of visitors can mean it's easier for us to establish the routines our babies need and then thrive on, there are also downsides. There's no real extended support network. No popping out for a chat when the weather is awful and we just need a coffee and a hug. Because hugs are most definitely off the cards right now.

What we need are face-to-face HV appointments, not being told to Eat Out at the pub. We need properly funded perinatal mental health services, running face-to-face appointments, not to be told to take our babies to the soft play centre. So much is missed by replacing those early face-to-face visits with telephone calls.

There are Mams sitting at home, finding it difficult to get support because they don't know where to turn.  The impact on our children will be huge in the long term.  Because if we don't have happy, functioning families, then our children will not have anywhere to turn themselves.