I am often asked about statistics, etc. around Mother and Baby units in the UK.
Here is a link to the latest survey of all MBU facilities in the UK. Unfortunately you have to pay to read it in full:
National Survey of Psychiatric Mother and Baby Units in England
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/5/629
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Friday, 10 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Stress busting on BBC Radio Manchester
This morning I joined Clive www.clivegott.com and Bev Platt who runs a training company for the travel industry on Heather Stott's BBC radio Manchester Coffee Club slot. We discussed topical issues on and off air from 9 - 10 a.m.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/
We chatted about the 'new' generation of latch key kids. I had always had my Mum at home and only had a school lunch when I was in the 6th form! In contrast Clive had been a latch key kid from 11.
Also we talked about holidays - Bev reckons that this year the industry is okay as people had booked/saved prior to the recession but the travel business has concerns for next year.
We also debated the perils of noisy neighbours; the new research that claims stress can make you fat and ways we combat stress. I got my technique of appealing to the senses in and also not to struggle on your own with problems.
A relaxed and pleasant hour!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/
We chatted about the 'new' generation of latch key kids. I had always had my Mum at home and only had a school lunch when I was in the 6th form! In contrast Clive had been a latch key kid from 11.
Also we talked about holidays - Bev reckons that this year the industry is okay as people had booked/saved prior to the recession but the travel business has concerns for next year.
We also debated the perils of noisy neighbours; the new research that claims stress can make you fat and ways we combat stress. I got my technique of appealing to the senses in and also not to struggle on your own with problems.
A relaxed and pleasant hour!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Monday, 6 July 2009
Well done to 'Stepping Forward' in Suffolk!
On March 27th 2008 I was delighted to be asked to present at at 'Stepping Forward' event in Ipswich - the video is on the home page of my website. Stepping Forward has become an invaluable opportunity for Suffolk Mental Health Partnership to give information about the Care Programme Approach (CPA) and get feedback on how service users and family carers experience it.
Jeannie Wright who is a key player in the event (CPA and clinical risk manager/ practice educator) has told me that their group has won the Care Programme Approach Association (CPAA) Award for Excellence in Partnership Working 2009. There is to be a presentation at Lincoln University on July 15th.
Many congratulations to the dedicated team of professionals, service users and carers involved.
Have a look at their work here
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17141316/SteppingForwardV6-SingleqxdLayout-5-Edited-2
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Jeannie Wright who is a key player in the event (CPA and clinical risk manager/ practice educator) has told me that their group has won the Care Programme Approach Association (CPAA) Award for Excellence in Partnership Working 2009. There is to be a presentation at Lincoln University on July 15th.
Many congratulations to the dedicated team of professionals, service users and carers involved.
Have a look at their work here
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17141316/SteppingForwardV6-SingleqxdLayout-5-Edited-2
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Links to other resources on postnatal illness
Here are some links to more information and some forums which may help people affected by postnatal illness.
A BBC article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8119757.stm
Talk Depression, an informative depression site containing, articles, members experiences of living with depression and other mental health issues and it’s effects, useful links and a peer support forum where you will be warmly welcomed by members who can understand how it can be.
http://www.talk-depression.net
netmums has loads of useful information and support for families but also has very good postnatal depression sections.
http://www.netmums.com/pnd/
Advice and forums on PND - Australia-based.
http://www.birth.com.au/Postnatal-depression.aspx
Let me know if you find any more!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
A BBC article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8119757.stm
Talk Depression, an informative depression site containing, articles, members experiences of living with depression and other mental health issues and it’s effects, useful links and a peer support forum where you will be warmly welcomed by members who can understand how it can be.
http://www.talk-depression.net
netmums has loads of useful information and support for families but also has very good postnatal depression sections.
http://www.netmums.com/pnd/
Advice and forums on PND - Australia-based.
http://www.birth.com.au/Postnatal-depression.aspx
Let me know if you find any more!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Friday, 3 July 2009
Father's Depression May Affect Infant's Colic
This research report is from
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/health/article_212241591.shtml?ref=rss
Excessive crying in infants, otherwise known as colic, has been linked to symptoms of depression in the mother. Now a study conducted in the Netherlands links infant colic to depression in the father as well.
The finding that continuous paternal depression appears associated with increased risk for colic among infants, "might inspire future fathers with depressive symptoms to seek treatment," Dr. Mijke P. van den Berg told Reuters Health.
Van den Berg, of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, and colleagues assessed symptoms of depression in several thousand sets of parents when the mothers were 20 weeks pregnant. They found that about 12 percent of the fathers and 11 percent of the mothers showed signs of depression.
For example, they answered positively to questions about feeling lonely, blue, hopeless, or worthless; having "no interest in things," or having "thoughts of ending life," the researchers report in the journal Pediatrics.
Later, when the infants of these parents had reached 2 months of age, the researchers assessed parental reports of excessive crying.
Overall, 4.1 percent of depressed fathers, compared with 2.2 percent of non-depressed fathers, had infants who cried for at least 3 hours daily on 3 or more days in the previous week. Corresponding figures among depressed and non-depressed mothers were 4.8 and 2.2 percent, respectively.
Excessive infant crying remained more prevalent among depressed fathers and mothers even after allowing for parental age, education level, and ethnicity; gender and number of children; and paternal smoking.
Moreover, adjustments for depressive symptoms among the other parent did not alter these findings.
Traditionally, research and clinical practice focused on the influence of maternal depression during and after pregnancy, whereas "this study shows paternal mental well-being should also be taken into account," van den Berg told Reuters Health.
Additional research is needed to attempt to "disentangle the possible mechanisms" associated with paternal depression and infant colic, noted van den Berg.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, July 2009.
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/health/article_212241591.shtml?ref=rss
Excessive crying in infants, otherwise known as colic, has been linked to symptoms of depression in the mother. Now a study conducted in the Netherlands links infant colic to depression in the father as well.
The finding that continuous paternal depression appears associated with increased risk for colic among infants, "might inspire future fathers with depressive symptoms to seek treatment," Dr. Mijke P. van den Berg told Reuters Health.
Van den Berg, of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, and colleagues assessed symptoms of depression in several thousand sets of parents when the mothers were 20 weeks pregnant. They found that about 12 percent of the fathers and 11 percent of the mothers showed signs of depression.
For example, they answered positively to questions about feeling lonely, blue, hopeless, or worthless; having "no interest in things," or having "thoughts of ending life," the researchers report in the journal Pediatrics.
Later, when the infants of these parents had reached 2 months of age, the researchers assessed parental reports of excessive crying.
Overall, 4.1 percent of depressed fathers, compared with 2.2 percent of non-depressed fathers, had infants who cried for at least 3 hours daily on 3 or more days in the previous week. Corresponding figures among depressed and non-depressed mothers were 4.8 and 2.2 percent, respectively.
Excessive infant crying remained more prevalent among depressed fathers and mothers even after allowing for parental age, education level, and ethnicity; gender and number of children; and paternal smoking.
Moreover, adjustments for depressive symptoms among the other parent did not alter these findings.
Traditionally, research and clinical practice focused on the influence of maternal depression during and after pregnancy, whereas "this study shows paternal mental well-being should also be taken into account," van den Berg told Reuters Health.
Additional research is needed to attempt to "disentangle the possible mechanisms" associated with paternal depression and infant colic, noted van den Berg.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, July 2009.
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Help for postnatal illness in Ireland
I was recently asked for help and information on postnatal illness in and around Cork, Ireland.
Cork Mental health http://www.corkmentalhealth.com/ were very helpful and sent me the following details.
Their website is also worth a look around too.
AWARE
72 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 6617211
Locall: 1890 303302
Fax: +353 (0)1 6617217
Web: www.aware.ie
HEALTH PROMOTION UNIT
Department of Health and Children
Hawkins House
Hawkins Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 635 4000
Fax: +353 1 634 4372
Web: www.healthpromotion.ie
MENTAL HEALTH IRELAND
Mensana House
6 Adelaide Street
Dun Laoghaire
Dublin
Tel: +353 (0)1 2841166
Fax: +353 (0)1 2841736
Web: www.mentalhealthireland.ie
PARENT LINE
Carmichael House
North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7
Tel: +353 (0)1 8787230
Locall: 1890 927 277
Web: www.parentline.ie
POSTNATAL DISTRESS SUPPORT GROUP
Planning Office
St. Finbarr's Hospital
Cork
Tel: +353 (0) 21 492 3162
Web: www.pnd.ie
If anyone else can add to the list please let me know!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Cork Mental health http://www.corkmentalhealth.com/ were very helpful and sent me the following details.
Their website is also worth a look around too.
AWARE
72 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 6617211
Locall: 1890 303302
Fax: +353 (0)1 6617217
Web: www.aware.ie
HEALTH PROMOTION UNIT
Department of Health and Children
Hawkins House
Hawkins Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 635 4000
Fax: +353 1 634 4372
Web: www.healthpromotion.ie
MENTAL HEALTH IRELAND
Mensana House
6 Adelaide Street
Dun Laoghaire
Dublin
Tel: +353 (0)1 2841166
Fax: +353 (0)1 2841736
Web: www.mentalhealthireland.ie
PARENT LINE
Carmichael House
North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7
Tel: +353 (0)1 8787230
Locall: 1890 927 277
Web: www.parentline.ie
POSTNATAL DISTRESS SUPPORT GROUP
Planning Office
St. Finbarr's Hospital
Cork
Tel: +353 (0) 21 492 3162
Web: www.pnd.ie
If anyone else can add to the list please let me know!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Amazing 'Think Family' Day! Including pets!
Every now and then I am privileged to be part of an event which stands out from the rest. The ‘Think Family’ conference held today by West London Mental Health trust (Hounslow) was one of those!
http://www.wlmht.nhs.uk/
The venue at St. George’s suite, Twickenham stadium was impressive to start with and I have never seen an event fill up so early! There were around 100 health professionals and students from across the area.
http://www.twickenhamexperience.com/st-georges-suite
Dr Alice Parshall, the Clinical Director for Hounslow Service Delivery Unit (SDU), very impressively chaired the day, keeping us to time schedule almost to the second, with some of the best summing up after presentations I have ever heard! Her passion for getting services to work together and being aware that a person with a mental health problem has a family that is crucial to their care and recovery is an approach I would love to see nationally.
First speaker was the wonderful Dr Ian Banks who is a part-time GP, A & E doctor in Belfast but also the president of the European Men’s Health forum http://www.emhf.org/ and medical journalist amongst other things. He effectively delivered a range of statistics showing the vast differences in gender differences around life expectancy and illnesses. There are 3,000 male suicides a year in the UK - a bigger killer than testicular cancer. Dr Banks suggested one theory of the reluctance by some men to go to the GPs was the female 'barrier's, e.g. receptionist, pharmacy staff.
He also quoted research by Madsen and Juhl (2007) which showed from a study of 607 new fathers 6.5% suffered from 'postnatal' depression but the feeling is that many more go undetected. His belief is that men need health issues presented in a more mechanical, lateral format rather than ‘holistic’. Consequently he has written some great books for men in the car manual format! Have a look at the excellent site http://www.menshealthforum.org.uk
I gave my presentation but with the focus today on the effects of my illness on my family and gave some suggestions on how we can make services better for others.
After lunch was a very powerful presentation by Louise Wardale from Barnardo’s in Liverpool. I have admired Louise and the work she has done for several years and today was no exception. She showed a stunning DVD called ‘Telling it like it is’ which conveys what it feels like to be a young carer for a parent with mental health needs. Then the Splinter group of amazing youngsters from Liverpool who are all members of the Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers, gave a drama presentation of the issues affecting them. Stimulating stuff showing how we all need to feel safe, wanted and loved! I cannot recommend the work Louise and her team have done enough – especially their ‘Keeping the Family in Mind’ resource pack. See http://www.barnardos.org.uk/research_and_publications
I loved Louise's message from the youngsters that
'By listening you may be able to understand.
By understanding you may be able to help'.
Next we heard from Sarah Ghani, a Consultant Psychologist and Clinical Lead for Older people’s Services – she spoke about ‘Too old to help? Involving Older family members’. She effectively reminded us of the powerful resource they can be yet are often undervalued for their skills, knowledge and experience. It reminded me that we had done this with my grandparents when I was so poorly. The tendency is to want to protect the older family members yet they can offer great support. I had felt I did not want to upset my Grandma and I know I put an act on when I was with her! Maybe I should have been much more open with her? Mum and I miss her terribly these days, especially when we have a crisis – Mum always says her mother worried over incidental issues but had words of wisdom for big issues.
Very often the last session of a conference is thin on the ground for attendance as people slope off after coffee – not today. The final presentation was given by Graham Crennell (Head of Governance and Risk at Hounslow SDU) and Donna Sloss (Senior Nurse Clinical Lead for Treatment and Emergency Psychiatry). The subject – Home, Pets, the Family and Mental Well-being’. Fabulous!
They showed how important pets are to us humans showing us affection, giving us a purpose to get up, to exercise, etc. Research from America demonstrates how using pets with people with mental health problems can have a significant effect on recovery. A powereful and cheap way to help people – bring it on I say!
The only problem I had was making the assumption that Travelodge would have a hairdryer and an ironing board – oops! Arriving very late due to trains, road works, etc. meant they had all gone! My learning point for my travels in future!!
Other than that the whole event was a joy to be part of and I had one of the most informative and useful days I have had in a long while.
Dr Parshall and her team have a great deal to be proud of and I shall be pointing other areas to them as an example of good practice.
Thank you Suzanne and Jane for asking me to be part of such a wonderful event!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
http://www.wlmht.nhs.uk/
The venue at St. George’s suite, Twickenham stadium was impressive to start with and I have never seen an event fill up so early! There were around 100 health professionals and students from across the area.
http://www.twickenhamexperience.com/st-georges-suite
Dr Alice Parshall, the Clinical Director for Hounslow Service Delivery Unit (SDU), very impressively chaired the day, keeping us to time schedule almost to the second, with some of the best summing up after presentations I have ever heard! Her passion for getting services to work together and being aware that a person with a mental health problem has a family that is crucial to their care and recovery is an approach I would love to see nationally.
First speaker was the wonderful Dr Ian Banks who is a part-time GP, A & E doctor in Belfast but also the president of the European Men’s Health forum http://www.emhf.org/ and medical journalist amongst other things. He effectively delivered a range of statistics showing the vast differences in gender differences around life expectancy and illnesses. There are 3,000 male suicides a year in the UK - a bigger killer than testicular cancer. Dr Banks suggested one theory of the reluctance by some men to go to the GPs was the female 'barrier's, e.g. receptionist, pharmacy staff.
He also quoted research by Madsen and Juhl (2007) which showed from a study of 607 new fathers 6.5% suffered from 'postnatal' depression but the feeling is that many more go undetected. His belief is that men need health issues presented in a more mechanical, lateral format rather than ‘holistic’. Consequently he has written some great books for men in the car manual format! Have a look at the excellent site http://www.menshealthforum.org.uk
I gave my presentation but with the focus today on the effects of my illness on my family and gave some suggestions on how we can make services better for others.
After lunch was a very powerful presentation by Louise Wardale from Barnardo’s in Liverpool. I have admired Louise and the work she has done for several years and today was no exception. She showed a stunning DVD called ‘Telling it like it is’ which conveys what it feels like to be a young carer for a parent with mental health needs. Then the Splinter group of amazing youngsters from Liverpool who are all members of the Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers, gave a drama presentation of the issues affecting them. Stimulating stuff showing how we all need to feel safe, wanted and loved! I cannot recommend the work Louise and her team have done enough – especially their ‘Keeping the Family in Mind’ resource pack. See http://www.barnardos.org.uk/research_and_publications
I loved Louise's message from the youngsters that
'By listening you may be able to understand.
By understanding you may be able to help'.
Next we heard from Sarah Ghani, a Consultant Psychologist and Clinical Lead for Older people’s Services – she spoke about ‘Too old to help? Involving Older family members’. She effectively reminded us of the powerful resource they can be yet are often undervalued for their skills, knowledge and experience. It reminded me that we had done this with my grandparents when I was so poorly. The tendency is to want to protect the older family members yet they can offer great support. I had felt I did not want to upset my Grandma and I know I put an act on when I was with her! Maybe I should have been much more open with her? Mum and I miss her terribly these days, especially when we have a crisis – Mum always says her mother worried over incidental issues but had words of wisdom for big issues.
Very often the last session of a conference is thin on the ground for attendance as people slope off after coffee – not today. The final presentation was given by Graham Crennell (Head of Governance and Risk at Hounslow SDU) and Donna Sloss (Senior Nurse Clinical Lead for Treatment and Emergency Psychiatry). The subject – Home, Pets, the Family and Mental Well-being’. Fabulous!
They showed how important pets are to us humans showing us affection, giving us a purpose to get up, to exercise, etc. Research from America demonstrates how using pets with people with mental health problems can have a significant effect on recovery. A powereful and cheap way to help people – bring it on I say!
The only problem I had was making the assumption that Travelodge would have a hairdryer and an ironing board – oops! Arriving very late due to trains, road works, etc. meant they had all gone! My learning point for my travels in future!!
Other than that the whole event was a joy to be part of and I had one of the most informative and useful days I have had in a long while.
Dr Parshall and her team have a great deal to be proud of and I shall be pointing other areas to them as an example of good practice.
Thank you Suzanne and Jane for asking me to be part of such a wonderful event!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
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