Women, birthing people, families and staff are invited to share experiences of maternity & neonatal care in England via the National Maternity & Neonatal Investigation. Lived experience, including mental health, is vital to shaping better care. Please share only what feels safe 💙

📢 Real change isn’t seasonal. It’s shaped by people who show up and push for better systems of support. To our supporters, members and partners: thank you for the difference you make, day in and day out.  Reshare and tag us, your voice helps strengthen the collective impact 🤍

📢 Real change isn’t seasonal. It’s shaped by people who show up and push for better systems of support. To our supporters, members and partners: thank you for the difference you make, day in and day out.  Reshare and tag us, your voice helps strengthen the collective impact 🤍

We are delighted to introduce our Story of Change concept, created for the Maternal Mental Health Councils Programme. Download here: https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/resources/?query=story+of+change

We welcome news that Seren Lodge, a new specialist Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Chester, will open later this month. The eight-bed unit will support women and birthing people, their babies and families across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. Timely access to MBU care can life-changing.

Read and hear more about Tessa’s story of Termination for Medical Reasons as part of our This is Also Motherhood exhibition with Carolyn Mendelsohn: https://www.alsomotherhood.com/tessa #AlsoMotherhood

As many as 1 in 4 women and birthing people will experience mental health problems around pregnancy. Download our Signs & Symptoms Checker here: https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/about-maternal-mental-health #ItStartsWithAwareness

Young mums and birthing people face extra pressures; from isolation to navigating complex systems with a new baby. With Pilgrim Trust funding, MMHA and partners are delivering a new Link Work Service offering flexible support for mums aged 16–25.  💜 Read more on our Projects page.

Baroness Amos’ findings echo years of concern: maternity care is failing too many, especially those facing mental health difficulties. People aren’t being listened to, informed or treated fairly. This investigation must lead to safe, holistic and respectful care for all. #MMHA

We’re proud to be working with @york.ac.uk and @ruthndwrites.bsky.social on a study exploring how community-based support can improve #mentalhealth in young mothers and birthing people under 25 💜 Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/perinatal-support

A huge thank you to Kate Lancaster at RCOG for inviting our CEO Nikki Wilson to Friday’s roundtable chaired by Prof Dame Lesley Regan, Women’s Health Ambassador for England 💜

In a new guest blog for MMHA, Lucienne Cooper from #DSUK outlines new research highlighting the effect of how Down syndrome screening is framed, discussed and results delivered can have an effect on #perinatalmentalhealth. Read it here: https://tinyurl.com/4kysuf75

Meet Naomi, our new Lived Experience Champion. After a difficult pregnancy with type 1 diabetes & an eating disorder during the pandemic, she found support through peer networks & counselling. Perinatal mental health must be routine so no one struggles alone 💜 #PerinatalMentalHealth

We’re amplifying the voices of women and birthing people facing addiction and perinatal mental health challenges. Stigma harms, compassion heals. In collaboration with Her Circle @hercirclene.bsky.social, we’re pushing for trauma-informed, joined-up care. #AddictionAwarenessWeek

The exhibition may be over but the This is Also Motherhood website is now live! Head over to discover 10 powerful stories of mental health, strength and survival #AlsoMotherhood #PerinatalMentalHealth www.alsomotherhood.com

Our network of Lived Experience Champions includes parents and their families whose lives have been impacted by perinatal mental illness. They share stories to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and influence positive change. Read Maela’s story: tinyurl.com/hjyjj2t3 #WorldPrematurityDay

Today, the MMHA team is proud to join trailblazing women and allies at the @agenda-alliance.bsky.social Convention to celebrate a decade of impact and advocacy for women and girls at the sharpest end of inequality. 1/2 #AllianceForChange

Today, I joined @mmhalliance.bsky.social in Parliament, where I heard directly from Black mothers. Timely and effective support is transformative for maternal outcomes, yet Black mothers still face higher risks and systemic barriers to receiving appropriate care.

A fantastic day of awareness raising and commitment to taking action on improving perinatal mental health support for Black mothers and their families. Read all about it: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/parliam...

ICYMI: We’ve recapped @laurakyrkesmith.bsky.social's introduction of "Sophie's Law" and the MBRRACE-UK debate in the House of Lords last month, including key questions from MMHA Chair Luciana Berger, Lord Patel and Baroness Gohir: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/sophies...

Donate before midday tomorrow (15 Oct) to be in with a chance to win a FREE copy of our ‘This is Also Motherhood’ book, signed by award-winning photographer, Carolyn Mendelsohn: lnkd.in/eqGUGf-9

We couldn't have created the Symptom Checker without donations from last year's Big Give campaign. Please help us reach our target this year so we can do even more: donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS... We're 18% of the way there with just two days to go. Donate or share now.

The MMHA Information Centre launched in May, funded entirely by last year’s Big Give donations. It’s already reaching 1000s of women and birthing people. We’re taking part again to grow the Centre and reach even more families. Double your donation today: donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS... 💜

Donations to the Maternal Mental Health Alliance are being doubled this week through the #BigGive Women and Girls campaign. Help make twice the difference: donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS...

✨ Shubho Bijoya ✨ to my fellow Bengalis. As Durga Puja ends, we celebrate resilience and the triumph of good over evil. Change begins in our own circles-challenging harmful narratives, having brave conversations, and standing up for those made to feel unwelcome. Let's choose compassion over hate💜

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance is deeply appalled and heartbroken by the recent wave of anti-immigration marches and the racist and misogynistic abuse that has accompanied them.

In a new guest blog for the MMHA, @laurakyrkesmith.bsky.social reflects on her recent cross-party roundtable on #PerinatalMentalHealth and how the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan can deliver lasting change for women, birthing people and families: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/10-year...

Today, The Motherhood Group launched a new report exposing the urgent realities of Black maternal mental health in the UK. Download: themotherhoodgroup.org/black-matern... #BMMHW2025

Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK 2025 is here! We’re proud to be partnering with The Motherhood Group and @mmhalliance.bsky.social Together, we can change maternal mental health outcomes. More at themotherhoodgroup.org/bmmhw25/ #MakeBlackMothersVisible #BMMHW2025 #TheMotherhoodGroup

Black Maternal Mental Health Week begins today, returning for its 5th year, led by MMHA Member The Motherhood Group. This week is about more than awareness. We'll be highlighting new research, sharing insights from lived experiences, and discussing how we translate evidence into action. #BMMHW2025

Thanks to Amy for sharing her experience of PND and the lifesaving inpatient care she received at an MBU. With family ties to Northern Ireland, Amy reflected on how different her story might have been if that was where she was living at the time: www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/norther...

Today, 14 NHS Trusts have been named as part of the rapid, independent national investigation into maternity and neonatal services led by Baroness Amos: www.gov.uk/government/n...

The latest MBRRACE report is as devastating as ever. Mental health must be at the heart of maternity safety. Every life lost is one too many. Read our full response: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/mbrrace... #PerinatalMentalHealth #MakeAllCareCount

iHV publishes ‘Transforming Perinatal and Infant Mental Health: A mixed-methods evaluation of the iHV Champions Programme’ Results suggest that the Programme is a credible, effective, and scalable approach to workforce development and system transformation. ihv.org.uk/news-and-vie...

Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK is less than 4 weeks away (22–28 Sept), led by MMHA member The Motherhood Group. The theme: Make Black Mothers Visible The goal: Amplify voices, share policy solutions & highlight safe, culturally-informed support options. #BMMHW2025 #MakeBlackMothersVisible

Baroness Amos will lead the NHS maternity & neonatal care investigation. We welcome the timeline & focus on families’ voices but seek clarity on mental health inclusion. As the most common perinatal complication & a leading cause of death, it must be: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/barones...

We’ve been working on something special with artist Carolyn Mendelsohn and 10 incredible women. Today, we’re proud to reveal the name of our upcoming exhibition. #AlsoMotherhod

🗣️"When Black mothers feel seen, respected and supported, this can have a powerful ripple effect on families, communities and future generations." Caroline Bazambanza reflects on the need for spaces for Black mothers which provide safety, cultural affirmation & community healing tinyurl.com/bddp7ev7

Feeding can be a challenging part of early parenthood. When it doesn’t go as expected, it can have a real impact on new parents’ mental health. We’re pleased to hear that the DHSC will continue to fund the 24/7 National Breastfeeding Helpline for another year. Read more: www.gov.uk/government/n...

“Postnatal depression is far more common than many people realise and can have a devastating impact on mothers, babies and families if left untreated.” Dr Trudi Seneviratne, Royal College of Psychiatrists Read more: www.irvinetimes.com/news/nationa...

🔔 The @jameslindalliance.bsky.social survey closes at the end of the week. We're asking people with lived experience and professionals who work with families to help shape the top research priorities in #PerinatalMentalHealth. It should only take 10mins but you can save & return: lnkd.in/em5-sZ5b

🚨 1 in 3 women who died during or after pregnancy had social care involvement. New research from KCL, Uni of Oxford and @birthcompanions.bsky.social calls for joined-up, trauma-informed care that supports mothers as well as babies. Read more: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/new-stu...

The new plan offers a welcome focus on prevention and confirms the maternity investigation, which presents a real opportunity to improve perinatal mental health care. But without clear commitments, we risk leaving families behind. Read our response: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/10-year...

Started the survey but didn’t get a chance to finish? You can go back and complete it! It only takes 10 minutes, and your answers could help shape the future of perinatal mental health research bit.ly/PMHPriorities

Alongside the recently announced investigation into maternity services, today's Plan is a chance to listen to lived experience, build on progress, and push for equitable access to compassionate #PerinatalMentalHealth care. We’re reviewing what this means for families & will share our response soon.

Last week, @laurakyrkesmith.bsky.social asked the Government to prioritise maternal mental health in the upcoming 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS. The Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell MP, gave assurances that maternal mental health would be addressed.

Thank you to the MMHA champions for leading the co-production of the #ReadingWell for Families perinatal mental health resource, in collaboration with @readingagency.bsky.social. Their personal experience helped create a valuable source of comfort, hope and understanding to those who read them.

We welcome the national maternity investigation announced by Wes Streeting this week. We hope the investigation leads to much needed systemic changes, so that all women can access compassionate care for their mental health during pregnancy and after birth.

Wes Streeting announces investigation into NHS maternity services

We’ve updated our list of running events across the UK for 2024/25! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. Every step raises awareness. Find an event near you and join us in making a difference: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/run #RunForMMHA