Having a parent with a mental health problem

I have received this information via the March newsletter of the Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network (www.pmhcwn.org.uk).

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced a new film aimed at young carers themselves, in which young carers talk about their lives caring for a parent with a mental health problem. Narrated by Chineye, a young carer herself, the film also explains in a very simple and visual way how the brain is believed to work and what happens when things go wrong – described as ‘the filter that only allows through information that is needed can go wrong and the person’s brain can become flooded with information and the person feels overwhelmed with emotions.’ Medication is described as a plaster rather than a cure which is somewhat of an over-simplification, but the film could be valuable to children and young people seeking to gain some basic understanding of mental health from a biochemical perspective:
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/youngpeople/caringforaparent.aspx

Elaine

www.hanzak.com

Am I normal?

I am grateful to my good friend Neil Foley, for telling me about this Radio 4 programme 'Am I Normal?' looking at postnatal depression.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal.shtml


If you ask a woman who's just had a baby, have you felt sad or miserable in the last seven days, there's a fair chance she'll say yes.

So are we now better at identifying and helping women who are depressed post-natally or are we in danger of turning a normal, if bumpy period of psychological adjustment into an illness?

Vivienne Parry talks to psychiatrists and several mothers about what they think is normal in the post natal period.

Neil is great if you need information - on anything!
Have a look at Web: www.infoley.co.uk

Elaine

www.hanzak.com

Student Midwives learn about postnatal illlness

I spoke to some student midwives today at Chester University and shared my story, why I feel perinatal mental health is so important and how we can make the journey easier for others.

I promised them links to policy drivers and other areas of good practice for maternal mental health:-

Policy Drivers

Mind - Out of the Blue 2006
http://www.mind.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C07D9100-073F-412A-85EE-56CABCD74665/0/OutofBlueFinal.pdf
2008 DH: Child Health Promotion Programme
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_083645
2008 Healthcare Commission: Towards Better Births
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/_db/_documents/Towards_better_births_200807221338.pdf
2007 NICE Clinical Guidelines: A & PMH
http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/CG45
2007, 2004, 2001 CEMACH Reports
http://www.cemach.org.uk/
2007 NSF Implementation Maternity Matters
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_073312
DfES Every Child Matters
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/
2003 NICE: Antenatal Care
http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/CG6
2000 Royal College of Psychiatrists Reports (CR28, 1982, CR88)
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/collegereports/cr/cr88.aspx
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=NonArticle&hdAction=lnkhtml&contentId=1471728

Areas of good practice

East Midlands – Margaret Oates
www.pmmrc.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7489/$File/perinatal-psychiatric-services.pdf
Glasgow - Dr Roch Cantwell
http://pb.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/29/11/435-a
Tamworth PND Support Group
www.tamworthpostnataldepressionsupportgroup.com
Mailing list and forum
www.jan-net.com

Other useful literature

Clinical effectiveness of health visitor training in psychologically informed approaches for depression in postnatal women: pragmatic cluster randomised trial in primary care
This study by C.J. Morrell et al, examined the outcomes for postnatal women who received one of two psychologically informed interventions by health visitors, or usual care. They found that either of the psychologically informed approaches was beneficial and were more effective than usual treatment.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/jan15_2/a3045

The Positive Practice Guidelines for IAPT-Perinatal
http://www.iapt.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/83079-iapt-perinatal.pdf

Psychological support 'can cut mothers' depression'
Providing new mothers with psychological support can cut their risk of developing postnatal depression, according to research published today 16/01/2009
More information at: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/information/news/?entryid17=66949

More than just 'the baby blues'
Postnatal depression is a very common condition. Here are some facts about it:
16/01/2009
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/information/news/?entryid17=66951

The Mental Health Foundation, the UK s leading mental health research charity, and MyDish.co.uk launched a new recipe website for those interested in knowing more about the links between healthy eating and a healthy mind.
More information at: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/information/news/?entryid17=66890


Good luck in your career ladies!

Elaine

www.hanzak.com

Richard McCann at PSA.

As a professional speaker it is always interesting to listen to your peers and once in a while your socks are blown off by them! Richard McCann had this effect on me! I had invited him to address the members of the Professional Speakers Association NW meeting where I have become the President for the year. I gave him our chapter thank you gift of a microphone trophy - pictured.

Richard is a member at the East chapter and tonight he shared his stunning story and how he now has a diary full of bookings! I am not surprised! His messages for us to look for the positive in everything, to be courageous and to be authentic are very relevant to us as speakers.
Have a look at his website here www.richardmccann.co.uk

We met at the City Inn in Manchester which is an ideal venue and I cannot recommend it enough for meetings, food and a comfy bed!
http://www.cityinn.com/manchester/

We have booked our meetings for the rest of the year here.
Dates are 7 April, 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 1 Sept, 6 Oct, 3 Nov, 1 Dec.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to ideas for our next meetings.

If you are a speaker but would like to speak more and speak better then come along and see us!

Full details at http://www.professionalspeakersassociation.co.uk/

Elaine

www.hanzak.com

Stress relieving some Forward Ladies!

Today I had the pleasure of addressing some members of Forward Ladies at a lunch in Leeds. Forward Ladies are a business womens' network and support group.
http://www.forwardladies.com/

The members of the group introduced themselves and it was clear that we all had stresses and worries to cope with. Although they were from different angles and causes the effects on us are similar. It was good to help the ladies realise that they are not alone!

I shared my story with them and some of the techniques I use on a daily basis to help me stay sparkling and cope with stress. I hope it was useful.

We met at the wonderful Chambers, 30 Park Place, Leeds. Very swish!
http://www.morethanjustabed.com/

Elaine

www.hanzak.com

Try something new ... and don't give up!

Those of you who have heard me speak recently will know that I presented at the international Marce Society conference in Australia last September (see my blog entries for then). http://www.marcesociety.com/

I stayed at Manly on the outskirts of Sydney. It was a beautiful seaside resort.
http://www.manlyaustralia.com.au/

Little did I know that a few months later I would be watching their Sea Eagles Rugby League team play Leeds Rhinos at a chilly Elland Road stadium! It was the final of the World Club Challenge.

I have never been a sports spectating fan of any game but recently have gone along to Leeds Rhinos games with Clive. I confess the very idea of doing such a thing did not appeal to me in the slightest - but I have learnt that it is a question of 'don't knock it until you've tried it!' It's a whole new world for me! Fish and chips in the street; wearing a team shirt and yelling 'Cum on Jamie' from the stands!I loved it!

Only problem was .. we lost ... but the boys put up a good fight.
See the game details here ..
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h-tb-LP967MT6hBul67DOWT4FVPQ

I remembered that when I was poorly with postnatal depression being out in crowds really terrified me and I would have a panic attack. So I take nothing for granted these days.

If you are suffering at the moment - try something new .. because you never know, you might just like it! And keep on with the hope .. because one day .. you will feel better.

Elaine

www.hanzak.com

Prime Minister's pathetic response to postnatal e-petition

Some of my subscribers may have been kind enough to put their name to an e-petition to the Prime Minister.

We asked

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to arrange for more and higher standard of services for women and their families affected by post natal illness.”

Details of Petition:

“Currently services in the UK provided by the NHS are not up to the guidelines submitted by NICE. We believe the following basic principals should be put in place to help women and their families who are deeply affected by PNI to recover swiftly and fully: * A dedicated HV from each area in the UK to follow up any referrals from GP * Support groups on an informal basis to take the pressure off mums who may be suffering confidence with the opportunity to incorporate a buddy system. * Funds made for community groups to be set up with the support of a HV/CPN or other trained professional. * Faster follow up counseling than is currently available. * Shorter waiting lists for CBT and other therapies * A specifically trained individual on PNI to operate in each PCT * Correspondence for all mums with HV until the child reaches the age of 5 * More funding for charities supporting women and their families suffering PNI * Dedicated support for the father and families affected by the mother suffering PNI.”

This is the response and my personal reaction in brackets.

The Department of Health fully recognises that postnatal depression (PND) has a devastating effect not only on a woman following the birth of her child but also on her whole family. (I agree completely)

The Maternity Standard of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services sets standards for maternity care, including the early identification of and better support for women at the highest risk of developing postnatal depression. It is important for women to be provided with a postnatal care service that identifies their needs and responds in a structured and systematic way, and the NSF addresses this for both pre and postnatal mental health.
(Likewise I fully support this)

The 2007 strategy document Maternity Matters: Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service builds on the maternity standard. It outlines how women should receive coordinated postnatal care, delivered according to relevant guidelines and in an agreed pathway of care, encompassing both medical and social needs of women and their babies, including those requiring perinatal mental health services or neonatal intensive care. Maternity Matters also outlines the roles that service providers and commissioners will have in the provision of woman-focused, family-centred maternity services, incorporating the need to commission high quality, equitable, integrated maternity services as part of maternity, neonatal and perinatal mental health networks, according to local need.

(yes - we know this!)

It is also quite clear that maternity services should be designed, reviewed and improved through a programme of consultation with users, and with a full range of choices of postnatal care. In particular, Maternity Matters advocates that all professionals involved in the care of women immediately following childbirth need to be able to distinguish normal emotional and psychological changes from significant mental health problems, and to refer women for support according to their needs.

(We also know this BUT it doesn't happen as there simply isn't enough training out there)

The Department of Health has proposed extending the current duration of community postnatal care. This is because current research suggests that the routine midwife discharge at ten to fourteen days and routine discharge from maternity care at six to eight weeks is too short for a full assessment of health needs, and does not identify those women who may have post-delivery health problems, which need longer term care.

(Hooray! How long have we been saying this?)

The Department has therefore recommended that midwifery-led services be provided for the mother and her baby for at least a month after birth or discharge from hospital, and up to three months longer depending on individual need. The whole emphasis is on having better multi-professional working in order to meet the complex needs of women and their families. We expect midwives and health visitors to work closely together at this important time in both the mother’s and baby’s life.


(This is a slight improvement BUT TOTALLY INADEQUATE!!!!!)

So where are the references to the NICE guidelines? To the Child Health Promotion Programme?

Where is the extra funding needed for training and ensuring there are sufficient midwives and health visitors? Where is the extra support for prevention methods?

Sorry Mr. Brown but you have let the many, many families affected by this awful illness down badly.

'Recommendations' are simply not good enough. Maternal mental health care is a huge issue and can affect families for years. How much more suffering has to go on before long-term funding and managed care pathways are put into place?

As a former teacher my mark to Mr. Brown in red ink would be an 'E grade - not good enough - SEE ME!'

See the article here

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page18412

Looks like we still have a fight on our hands! Care to join me anyone?

Elaine

www.hanzak.com


P.S. I enjoyed being on Heather Stott's coffee shop this morning on BBC Radio Manchester. Fellow guests Val and Simon and I had fun talking about issues of the day.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/