PATHways to improving PerinAtal menTal Health…

Becoming a new parent should be an exciting time however for up to one in five women this isn’t the case. According to a study by LSE, the average cost to society of one case of perinatal depression is around £74,000, of which £23,000 relates to the mother and £51,000 relates to impacts on the child.

PATH is a newly EU-funded project which will enable women, families and healthcare professionals to prevent, diagnose and successfully manage mild and moderate perinatal mental health issues.

Becoming a parent is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging as you embark on your parenting journey. It can affect the way parents feel, as well as their mental wellbeing.

Mental health conditions such as postnatal depression and anxiety are not always recognised and treated.

PATH will enable parents, the wider family, employers and healthcare professionals to find support and information to help with the parenting journey. PATH aims to promote positive parenting experiences and enable parents to feel confident in seeking self-help or professional support, leading to happier and healthier families.

“10-20% of women suffer from mental illness following birth and up to a year after, of which around 90% of these women do not receive the support they need. The PATH project will deliver a multi-media campaign to raise awareness of and de-stigmatise PMI and promote prepared parenting, reaching 600,000 people across the 2Seas area.”

Sophie MCGANNAN
PATH Project Manager

PATH will develop a new online multi-media international support hub.

PATH has been awarded more than €5 million of European funding to this €8.5 million partnership.

This cross-border initiative involves thirteen partners from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. PATH will prepare parents pre-birth for their new role and help them avoid PMI. The project will improve the skills of healthcare professionals equipping them to address PMI confidently and effectively.

PATH will innovatively design, deliver and implement new, durable services both online and face-to-face, aiming to increase recognition and prevention of PMI and support new families’ mental wellbeing.

A course of support sessions for 4000 new families in mixed groups of pre-pregnant/pregnant/parenthood & a ground-breaking new model of holistic family support.

This model will include peer supporter training and network of intergenerational community support groups to increase recognition and understanding of PMI and enable greater community support to new families.

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2 2Seas

PATH – PerinAtal menTal Health – is part of the Interreg VA 2Seas programme and receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

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