The PATH project: Supporting perinatal mental health

Becoming a parent is an exciting time, but it can bring many challenges affecting parents’ mental health. Perinatal mental health problems affect between 10% and 20% of women during pregnancy and the first year after having a baby, around 90% of whom will not receive the support they need.

PATH is an Interreg Europe project which will enable women, families and healthcare professionals to prevent, diagnose and successfully manage mild/moderate perinatal mental health conditions via radical systemic change. Devon Mind is a proud partner of this innovative project.

Today, we wanted to give you an overview of our involvement with the PATH project, and how we hope it will help improve the perinatal experience.

What is perinatal mental health?

‘Peri’ is a prefix meaning “around” and ‘natal’ is a medical term related to birth. Therefore, ‘perinatal mental health’ refers to the mental and emotional wellbeing of someone around the time of a child’s birth. The term is sometimes split into two categories: ‘antenatal’, meaning during the pregnancy, and ‘postnatal’, meaning after the birth. Perinatal mental health problems don’t only affect mothers; up to 1 in 10 new fathers can experience postnatal depression.

Surely there is already support for perinatal mental health?

Yes, there is. However, this often focuses on emergency and severe cases only. There is some support available for people with mild to moderate difficulties related to perinatal mental health, however this can vary and in some cases involve lengthy waiting lists.

So what is Devon Mind going to do?

We are working with other organisations in the UK and Europe to develop resources for parents, professionals, employers and the general public.

What resources will Devon Mind develop for parents?

We are working to develop workshops about mental health during the perinatal period, and about the change in identity experienced by many in the process of becoming a parent. We are also working to develop an online hub of resources, and plan to train peer supporters to give further support to parents.

What resources will Devon Mind develop for professionals?

We are working to provide information about common perinatal mental illnesses to look out for. Additionally, we want to help professionals feel more confident about starting conversations about mental health with parents. There will also be e-learning available to support this.

What resources will Devon Mind develop for employers?

Through the PATH project, Southampton City Council and the Institute of Health Visiting are working to develop workplace standards for employers. Once these are developed, Devon Mind can help employers to support their employees who may be experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties or supporting someone else through this experience.

Are there any other organisations you are working with?

Yes! We are also collaborating with the Health and Europe Centre, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Kent County Council, Odisee University College, University College Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital in Belgium, Maasstad Hospital in the Netherlands, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health in France.

What will you be running for the general public?

We are planning a multimedia awareness campaign to bring mental health for parents into everyday conversation.