Explaining perinatal mental health support

Perinatal mental health problems affect at least 1 in 5 women, with 3–5% of women experiencing a serious psychiatric disorder – the single greatest indirect cause for UK maternal deaths is in the perinatal period.

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) is a Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) provider across Greater Manchester. They asked us to work with them on an explainer animation that would help with explaining the kind of support available to people and where they can access this help.

The film also sets out to reassure people that no matter how they feel about their thoughts, as soon as they feel brave enough to ask for help, there are people who can understand and empathise and often have been through exactly what they are going through.

It was important to represent as broad a spectrum of people as possible in this film: both male and female, rich and poor – anyone starting or expanding a family may find it difficult to cope.

The artist

We chose established fine artist Caroline Rudge for this project. Her beautiful watercolour images perfectly capture the emotion within the stories.