A team of NHS clinicians are taking on the Great Knaresborough Bed Race this weekend to spread understanding about postpartum mental health.
The mental health clinicians will be at the historic event on Saturday (13th June) to raise money for Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
They'll be one of 90 teams taking on the 2.4-mile annual race - a course that includes a swim through the River Nidd.
Anna Kilsby, a consultant psychiatrist at Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is described by teammates as the “driving force” behind the charity challenge.
She works in the Harrogate and Knaresborough perinatal mental health service which sees hundreds of people who seek specialist support each year.
Anna said:
“1 in 4 women have a mental health problem associated with having a baby. And 1 in 10 women and birthing people are considered at a level to need specialist perinatal mental health support.
"This means that struggling with your mental health after a baby is as common as everyday things, such as having curly hair.
“Despite this, people fear stigma and judgement if they ask for help. We know that the people who come to see us are often terrified. Too many people wait longer than they should – which impacts the woman or birthing person, baby and family."
She added:
“My motivation to run is that hopefully people who might need us will hear how common this is, learn that we exist and want to support them.
"Most importantly, they might also realise we are normal people who struggle doing things we aren’t used to - like running - and they don’t feel so anxious about meeting us.”
Jazz Richardson-Forster works as a Peer Lead for North Yorkshire York and Selby Community Services.
She said:
“I have my own personal lived experience of perinatal mental illness, which I bring to my role as a peer worker within the service.
"A bit like my experience of becoming a mum, training for this started off a bit rocky – really lacking in confidence, not feeling much hope, questioning how I got here.
“However, as the weeks have gone on, I really feel like I can do it. Part of that is down to the sense of community and understanding I feel within the team – something that was missing during my most difficult times.
"This feeling of understanding and safety is also missing for lots of women and birthing people."
She added:
“I’m not a runner; I find it really hard, but taking part in this challenge is a reminder to myself that I have done and been through harder things than this.
"There are women and birthing people going through harder things right now, than us pushing a bed around Knaresborough. We hope to raise enough awareness to reach some of those people.”
Jazz describes the race as a “real team effort” with the bed being decorated as an old-fashioned, Silver Cross style pram by staff from the perinatal service.
Laura Cattermole, Head of Clinical Strategy for Adult Mental Health Services at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust said:
“You are not alone, if you are having challenging thoughts or feelings after having a baby.
"We are here, when you are ready. Please share how you are feeling with your GP, health visitor, midwife or another professional who works with you. They can make a referral for you.”
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