Today I was invited to speak on BBC Radio Manchester on Heather Stott's morning programme to comment upon the latest research on postnatal depression.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/local_radio/
Two studies had been published in the British Medical Journal. http://www.bmj.com/
The studies have found that counselling and peer-group support for new mothers might help prevent depression. The first study (in England) found that postnatal depression is reduced in women if health visitors are trained to spot symptoms of depression six to eight weeks after birth, and offer psychological support. The second (Canadian) study found that women who received advice by phone from a woman who had suffered herself were around half as likely to develop postnatal depression 12 weeks after birth.
See a report here of the studies:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jan/15/health-mentalhealth
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/01January/Pages/Aidforpostnataldepression.aspx
I am a strong advocate of both theories and urge Primary Care Trusts to take these studies seriously and act upon them. Not only do the health visitors need more training in such issues but we need to give them more resources and staff to deal with the problem. And NOW!
There are lots of good links and helpful information here on PND
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/postnatal-depression
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Friday, 16 January 2009
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Perinatal Mental Health Training
Today I travelled down south to St. Richard's hospital in Chichester.
I had been asked to address staff involved in midwifery and the care of pregnant women and their children in the area.
The session was especially pertinent as very sadly a lady had commited suicide at the weekend not long after having given birth. This is why I feel so PASSIONATELY about increasing the awareness and reducing the stigma and ignorance around postnatal illness.
The more we can educate, communicate and inform everyone involved around pregnancy and birth, the better chance we have of reducing the suffering of so many.
It's not just about saving lives but improving them. I got a message recently from a lady who I had met when I went into a Mother and Baby unit and talked to the patients whilst giving them a pamper. At the time this particular lady was very ill and her mum joined the session. I felt extremely humble to learn that she is now well but especially as my story had actually 'saved the relationship' between mother and daughter by increasing the mothers' understanding of the awful illness.
I was given a very warm reception at St. Richard's and I look forward to my next visit there in February.
Thanks for the Danish Pastry Karen! It's on my 'feel good' list now!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
I had been asked to address staff involved in midwifery and the care of pregnant women and their children in the area.
The session was especially pertinent as very sadly a lady had commited suicide at the weekend not long after having given birth. This is why I feel so PASSIONATELY about increasing the awareness and reducing the stigma and ignorance around postnatal illness.
The more we can educate, communicate and inform everyone involved around pregnancy and birth, the better chance we have of reducing the suffering of so many.
It's not just about saving lives but improving them. I got a message recently from a lady who I had met when I went into a Mother and Baby unit and talked to the patients whilst giving them a pamper. At the time this particular lady was very ill and her mum joined the session. I felt extremely humble to learn that she is now well but especially as my story had actually 'saved the relationship' between mother and daughter by increasing the mothers' understanding of the awful illness.
I was given a very warm reception at St. Richard's and I look forward to my next visit there in February.
Thanks for the Danish Pastry Karen! It's on my 'feel good' list now!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Monday, 12 January 2009
Mental Health in Higher Education
Today I spoke at a workshop funded by Mental Health in Higher Education, held at Staffordshire University. www.mhhe.heacademy.ac.uk
The workshop, lead by Dr. Liz Boath, was entitled 'Learning and Teaching about perinatal mental health - Don't let women slip through the net'.
It was aimed at all health and social care educators, including practice teachers, mentors and service user trainers and carers with involvement in education.
It was oversubscribed!
Dr. Carol Henshaw gave a presentation on 'Perinatal Mental Health: a fly past'.
To summarise she stressed
1. It isn't all about postnatal depression
2. Serious psychiatric morbidity is associated with childbearing and these mothers and children have poor outcomes
3. All professionals involved in caring for pregnant and postpartum women require the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to mange these conditions.
Sadly such training is thin on the ground!
I gave an outline of my story and stressed the need to include perinatal mental health training to as many health and social work professionals as possible.
Delegates then looked at ways to include such training in the curriculum in their establishments.
A request was made for me to make a DVD for training. If I did would you want one? Please let me know! All suggestions taken on board!
Let's hope Mental Health in Higher Education can help us do another session!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
The workshop, lead by Dr. Liz Boath, was entitled 'Learning and Teaching about perinatal mental health - Don't let women slip through the net'.
It was aimed at all health and social care educators, including practice teachers, mentors and service user trainers and carers with involvement in education.
It was oversubscribed!
Dr. Carol Henshaw gave a presentation on 'Perinatal Mental Health: a fly past'.
To summarise she stressed
1. It isn't all about postnatal depression
2. Serious psychiatric morbidity is associated with childbearing and these mothers and children have poor outcomes
3. All professionals involved in caring for pregnant and postpartum women require the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to mange these conditions.
Sadly such training is thin on the ground!
I gave an outline of my story and stressed the need to include perinatal mental health training to as many health and social work professionals as possible.
Delegates then looked at ways to include such training in the curriculum in their establishments.
A request was made for me to make a DVD for training. If I did would you want one? Please let me know! All suggestions taken on board!
Let's hope Mental Health in Higher Education can help us do another session!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Getting 2009 off to a great start!
'How to take 2009 by the throat and say I'm not done yet' was a new venture for my partner Clive Gott and I.
www.clivegott.com
We met through the Professional Speakers Association http://www.professionalspeakersassociation.co.uk/ and after encouragement at a seminar last year for colleagues to work together, we recognised the synergy and have devised this joint workshop.
We gave our delegates, whose ages ranged from 11 to pensioners, a full day of personal development hints and tips, along with ideas of maintaining their good mental health.
The feedback was great! It seemed we helped people face demons from their past; set goals to improve current relationships; focus their energy into following a new career and many other targets for 2009. We also recognised achievements from 2008.
Amongst the comments we received were:-
'I found your stories and the stories from the people in the room that courageously shared, very inspirational and the whole day was definitely emotionally moving.'
'I'd like to thank you for the brilliant workshop on Sunday. I think the different styles of you both works together really well. I got a lot out of it personally and it also made me realise how far I've come over the years and how ready I am to share my experiences at a different level. Both of you make it look so easy and natural ..'
'Your workshop really did have quite an effect on me! I guess it woke me up to taking a good hard look at exactly who I am being and what I deserve, then working on that.'
'Clive and Elaine are a great combination as presenters, hers being the more 'softly, softly' approach and Clive's more 'in your face' (a bit like good cop - bad cop) and it works really well!'
'You are both inspiring role models'.
All in all a productive day. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and would like to thank everyone for their honesty and participation.
Special thanks to Caroline Coward and her mum from Leeds Business Network who kindly gave their time for free to help us run the day.
http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(the-business-network-leeds-ltd)_54667.htm
Also to Janet from www.janetjonesphotography.co.uk for snapping away at us all day!
Watch this space for the next one!
Please contact us if you would like a similar day in your area or for your company!
Elaine and Clive
www.clivegott.com www.hanzak.com
www.clivegott.com
We met through the Professional Speakers Association http://www.professionalspeakersassociation.co.uk/ and after encouragement at a seminar last year for colleagues to work together, we recognised the synergy and have devised this joint workshop.
We gave our delegates, whose ages ranged from 11 to pensioners, a full day of personal development hints and tips, along with ideas of maintaining their good mental health.
The feedback was great! It seemed we helped people face demons from their past; set goals to improve current relationships; focus their energy into following a new career and many other targets for 2009. We also recognised achievements from 2008.
Amongst the comments we received were:-
'I found your stories and the stories from the people in the room that courageously shared, very inspirational and the whole day was definitely emotionally moving.'
'I'd like to thank you for the brilliant workshop on Sunday. I think the different styles of you both works together really well. I got a lot out of it personally and it also made me realise how far I've come over the years and how ready I am to share my experiences at a different level. Both of you make it look so easy and natural ..'
'Your workshop really did have quite an effect on me! I guess it woke me up to taking a good hard look at exactly who I am being and what I deserve, then working on that.'
'Clive and Elaine are a great combination as presenters, hers being the more 'softly, softly' approach and Clive's more 'in your face' (a bit like good cop - bad cop) and it works really well!'
'You are both inspiring role models'.
All in all a productive day. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and would like to thank everyone for their honesty and participation.
Special thanks to Caroline Coward and her mum from Leeds Business Network who kindly gave their time for free to help us run the day.
http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(the-business-network-leeds-ltd)_54667.htm
Also to Janet from www.janetjonesphotography.co.uk for snapping away at us all day!
Watch this space for the next one!
Please contact us if you would like a similar day in your area or for your company!
Elaine and Clive
www.clivegott.com www.hanzak.com
Monday, 5 January 2009
Beyondblue Newsletter and Carers Booklet
The latest newsletter from 'beyondblue' is available now to download:-
Through beyondblue news, the newsletter of beyondblue: the national depression initiative, we intend to keep you updated with information on depression and anxiety-related matters in Australia and internationally.
We'll report on beyondblue's activities, people, research, programs and partner organisations.
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=105.891
beyondblue has produced a free booklet and DVD to help people who care for a friend or a family member to navigate their way through some of the challenging issues they’re likely to face in their caring role.
The booklet – The beyondblue Guide for Carers – and the DVD – Carers’ Stories of Hope and Recovery - can be ordered free of charge by clicking here http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=7.233 Both resources have been developed with input from people who have been, or are carers.
Elaine Hanzak
www.hanzak.com
Through beyondblue news, the newsletter of beyondblue: the national depression initiative, we intend to keep you updated with information on depression and anxiety-related matters in Australia and internationally.
We'll report on beyondblue's activities, people, research, programs and partner organisations.
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=105.891
beyondblue has produced a free booklet and DVD to help people who care for a friend or a family member to navigate their way through some of the challenging issues they’re likely to face in their caring role.
The booklet – The beyondblue Guide for Carers – and the DVD – Carers’ Stories of Hope and Recovery - can be ordered free of charge by clicking here http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=7.233 Both resources have been developed with input from people who have been, or are carers.
Elaine Hanzak
www.hanzak.com
Friday, 2 January 2009
Postively pregnant? Antenatal depression
Through my attendance at The Baby Show with other experts from https://www.greatvine.com/, I met Delphi who offers advice around anxiety and depression in pregnancy.
Her excellent new site is here:
http://positivelypregnant.co.uk
Well worth a look!
Elaine Hanzak
www.hanzak.com
Her excellent new site is here:
http://positivelypregnant.co.uk
Well worth a look!
Elaine Hanzak
www.hanzak.com
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Happy New Year!
I am spending new year in Malaga. Just having a relax and enjoying the luxury of being in one place!
One of the presents I got for Christmas was a book from my parents called 'Carry Me Home' by Catherine Lucas.
www.catherinelucas.co.uk
I read it in one go sunbathing by the pool today! Wow! I often get people contacting me and saying how my talks/book have made a difference to them. I felt like this reading Catherine's story of her journey from having survived a car crash in which her mother had been killed.
Although my trauma of puerperal psychosis is nowhere near as bad as someone being killed, the thought processes that Catherine has gone through since really struck chords with me. Over the last few years I too have felt 'lost'. Like something was missing but did not know what. The more I have mixed with positive, forward thinking people and been introduced to different ways of thinking, e.g. The Secret, The Celestine Prophecy, I have started to feel I was within reach of 'it'.
Catherine's journey has now made me realise that I too am now on a spiritual journey - I have been for a while it seems. She has found a 'new' life of love, truth and service. Indeed I now feel I am starting on that similar journey. I have felt for a while that my purpose was to help others reduce or avoid the suffering my family and I went through. As if I was destined to use my skills of public speaking and empathy in their best possible way.
Life has been very tough in recent months and I know it will continue to be so for a while. I just have to have faith that I have made the correct decisions and one day will reflect on this New Year as very much a new start. A new journey. I am prepared for rocky sections but hope that I have strength to pass through them. I am optimistic of witnessing more of the beauty in life that Catherine Lucas so brilliantly shares with her readers.
Thank you Catherine for making my New Year so special!
Also to my parents for, well, everything. To my darling Dominic who jumped in the pool fully clothed to see in the New Year! To my friends who are supporting me now, as ever and apologies to you all for being so insular for a while.
Bring on 2009!
Elaine
x
www.hanzak.com
One of the presents I got for Christmas was a book from my parents called 'Carry Me Home' by Catherine Lucas.
www.catherinelucas.co.uk
I read it in one go sunbathing by the pool today! Wow! I often get people contacting me and saying how my talks/book have made a difference to them. I felt like this reading Catherine's story of her journey from having survived a car crash in which her mother had been killed.
Although my trauma of puerperal psychosis is nowhere near as bad as someone being killed, the thought processes that Catherine has gone through since really struck chords with me. Over the last few years I too have felt 'lost'. Like something was missing but did not know what. The more I have mixed with positive, forward thinking people and been introduced to different ways of thinking, e.g. The Secret, The Celestine Prophecy, I have started to feel I was within reach of 'it'.
Catherine's journey has now made me realise that I too am now on a spiritual journey - I have been for a while it seems. She has found a 'new' life of love, truth and service. Indeed I now feel I am starting on that similar journey. I have felt for a while that my purpose was to help others reduce or avoid the suffering my family and I went through. As if I was destined to use my skills of public speaking and empathy in their best possible way.
Life has been very tough in recent months and I know it will continue to be so for a while. I just have to have faith that I have made the correct decisions and one day will reflect on this New Year as very much a new start. A new journey. I am prepared for rocky sections but hope that I have strength to pass through them. I am optimistic of witnessing more of the beauty in life that Catherine Lucas so brilliantly shares with her readers.
Thank you Catherine for making my New Year so special!
Also to my parents for, well, everything. To my darling Dominic who jumped in the pool fully clothed to see in the New Year! To my friends who are supporting me now, as ever and apologies to you all for being so insular for a while.
Bring on 2009!
Elaine
x
www.hanzak.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
