What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can improvement be used to reduce delays accessing health and care services'?

Only 6% of expectant parents are given information on post partum psychosis at their antenatal classes.  We are engaging a partnership with Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) and Action for Postpartum Psychoisis (APP) to develop peer support roles to co develop and co-deliver mental health awareness training as a low intensity intervention within primary care and maternity services. Recommendation 5 from the Review of Perinatal Mental Health

Services in NI advocates for  community based peer support services within perinatal mental health (RQIA, 2017).  Creating an peer support infrastructure will  enhance our understanding and improve integrated working between maternity services, Psychological Therapy Services and Perinatal Mental Health Services.  It will provide early access to a low intensity psychological intervention for women and their partners during the perinatal period.  The absence of an integrated pathway means multiple assessments and often unnecessary waiting times for families needing timely psychological care.

What does your project aim to achieve?

The current project aims a) to create a peer support model in partnership with two recognised peer led organisations Maternal Mental Health Alliance and Action for Postpartum Psychosis (APP).

b) to scope existing peer support initiatives in line with the McPin and Mind Peer Support Principles for Perinatal Mental Health.

c) to utilise the APP campaign for information about postpartum psychosis (PP) to be shared at every antenatal class in the UK click to view campaign

How will the project be delivered?

We propose funding partnership activities with MMA and APP to support setting up the governance infrastructure to support peer interventions.  This project will be co-ordinated by the lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Perinatal Mental Health Services and the Group Lead in Psychology therapy services. It will have Four phases

Phase 1: Set up partnerships MMHA / APP / NHSCT and PHA

Phase 2: Design Pathway and Access Training for Peer Supports

Phase 3: Engage Expectant Parents in codesigng and emergent delivery supported by Mindful Birth Foundation

Phase 4: Review Quality and Improvement Data (though this will occur throughout).

How is your project going to share learning?

There is a dearth, but growing, evidence base on the effectiveness and impact of perinatal mental health peer support. The literature is mainly focused on postnatal depression and maternal anxiety (Denis et al 2003b; Dennis, 2014; Letourneau et al 2014; Biggs et al 2015).  The interventions range from telephone helpline, peer led home visiting to counselling or listening ear interventions (Carter, et al 2017; Henning et al, 2015).  This limited literature packs a punch with women participants overwhelmingly advocating that sometimes peer support is the only acceptable support option relative to formal supports (Abrams et al 2009; Jesse et al 2008). Given the importance of establishing these roles and setting up an integrated pathway the project will be shared across the partnerships and published in peer reviewed QI journals.

The project outcomes will be monitored through the existing outcomes framework within PTS. The project will be reviewed as part of the PPI Accountability Review.