Humber NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to announce a free, two-day perinatal mental health conference as part of an ongoing collaboration between the University of Hull and the Trusts perinatal mental health liaison team.
The conference, which is open to health and social care professionals and those with an interest in women’s mental health, will feature a number of highly respected national and regional speakers in the field of women’s mental health, including Julie Jomeen, Professor of Midwifery and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull.
Taking place at the University of Hull (The Hive, The Lawns, Cottingham on 23 and 24 March), the conference leads into a module in perinatal mental health that the Trust’s team has also developed in collaboration with the university, to be taught at degree and masters level.
Claire Marshall, team leader of the perinatal mental health liaison team, said:
“We have been working with the university for a number of years and as part of this exciting partnership we have undertaken research studies, most recently a project to look at problems in engagement in mental health services for women with perinatal mental health problems.
“The conference will be a great opportunity for people to learn more about the subject and to share ideas with others.”
Professor Jomeen will open the conference by setting the national and regional scene in relation to perinatal mental health.
Professor Jomeen, who has an international reputation for research into maternity care, said:
“As a University, we conduct high-calibre research into maternal wellbeing, reproductive and sexual health, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing.
“We are committed to making a difference by driving improvements to healthcare in the region and in the UK as a whole – and this conference will enable researchers and health practitioners to share best-practice and expertise for the benefit of local mothers and their babies as well as their wider family.
“We are delighted to be able to work with Humber NHS Foundation Trust to improve mental health services for new mothers in this area. It is important to recognise that enhanced perinatal mental health for mothers has many additional benefits as it also supports positive family relationships and wellbeing in both the early days and longer term.”
Also included on the agenda is a presentation from Perinatal Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Zsolt Mogyorosy, Claire Marshall and Katy Morley from Humber NHS Foundation Trust on mental health issues in the perinatal period, treatment plans, pharmacology for pregnancy and breastfeeding and pre-conception counselling.
Dr Annette Schlosser, Clinical psychologist and lecturer at the University of Hull, will be facilitating a session on infant attachment and bonding, and Deborah Page, service manager from Leeds mother and baby unit, will be talking about the role and function of a regional psychiatric mother and baby unit.
There will be a speaker from the charity Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (SANDS) providing a session on loss and bereavement in the perinatal period, and a speaker from the charity Action for Postpartum Psychosis (APP) presenting on the personal and lived experience of puerperal psychosis from a service user perspective.
Michelle Donnelly, Service Manager from Hull Women’s Aid, will facilitate a session on the issues and risks of domestic violence for a pregnant/new mother and the family and safeguarding midwife Zoe Dale will present a session on the role of the midwife in safeguarding children where a mother has a mental health problem.
There will also be sessions covering the impact of parental mental illness upon the family, dual diagnosis in the perinatal period and importance of serious case reviews.
Claire continued:
“We are working with the university to bring education and research into clinical practice and vice versa, to ensure that women and their families’ are given the highest quality of care and treatment at a time of life that is both overwhelmingly beautiful and rewarding, yet sometimes fraught with risk, challenges and distress.”
Those interested in attending the conference can book a place and find out more by clicking here.
