Peer-support in mental health for parents and their infants - Information Event
Thu 3 Feb 2022 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM GMT
Online, Zoom
Description
Join us as we launch our latest project focusing on better mental health for Moray parents and their families! Our short online information event aims to help involve more partners and recruit parents keen to get involved.
1:30pm-2pm (there will be time following the event to answer any questions you may have)
Online via zoom
Exploring what works well to support mums and dads from pregnancy through the first few years of their child’s life, a new project aims to boost mental health of those involved and create learning to help improve the services of the future in Moray.
Focusing on the support parents can give one another, the year-long project will see events, groups and surveys hosted by Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC with partners Children 1st and Moray College UHI. Fronting the activity will be a group of parents supported with training and mentoring to lead the project as peer-researchers. They will seek to hear the voices of experience including those seldom heard such as those in more rural areas, minority ethnic communities and young people.
Why launch this campaign?
Parents initiated the project as part of a group of Champions, members of the social movement for change hosted by Moray Wellbeing Hub, “When I had mental illness, I felt fearful that I was letting my child down when they were born. I wanted to know things would be ok, I was terrified, and professionals could not do everything to reassure me. I wish I had the right peer-support then as I have now through being a Champion and parents groups. It can be better, and I think we can do it together.”
Mental health challenges in pregnancy and while caring for infants can be stigmatised, both for mothers and fathers, which can stop people getting the help they need to get better. This not only affects parents but their infants and their wider family. Peer-support, where those who have experienced similar challenges support others, has been shown to be successful for many people in improving their sense of connection, hope and empowerment.