MOTHER Project

Aims:

To explore the mental health experiences, needs and support of pregnant and postnatal women with language barriers in primary care and community settings.

Objectives:

1. To understand women’s experiences in accessing and receiving mental health care and support when experiencing language barriers.
2. To understand staff’s experiences in providing mental health care and support to women experiencing language barriers.
3. To co-produce recommendations to improve mental health care and support for these women in primary care and community settings and determine future research priorities.

Research Plan and Methods:

The MOTHER project will include a qualitative programme of three interlinked work packages with Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) threaded throughout. The work packages are:

Work Package 1:

Qualitative research with women (interviews and/or focus groups)

Work Package 2:

Qualitative research with staff (interviews and/or focus groups)

Work Package 3:

• Co-production workshops with key stakeholders
• Synthesis of findings from work packages 1 and 2
• Development of recommendations
• Determination of future research priorities.

Study Participants:

• A diverse sample of women who self-identify as experiencing English language barriers and mental health difficulties during and/or after pregnancy, are pregnant or have given birth in the last 2 years, aged 18 years or over, and who are able and willing to give informed consent.
• Staff involved in providing antenatal and postnatal mental health care and support for women with language barriers in primary care and community settings, including clinical and non-clinical staff, aged 18 years or over, speak English and who are able and willing to give informed consent.
• Stakeholders, including participants in work packages 1 and 2 and members of the PPIE and Project Advisory Group (PAG), health and social care professionals, policy makers, commissioners, representatives from Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in the UK.

• Project Advisory Group (PAG)
• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) group

• Prof Laura Jones - University of Birmingham
• Dr Beck Taylor - University of Warwick
• Prof Carolyn Chew-Graham - Keele University

Staff:

• Are you a healthcare professional or member of staff working in primary care or community settings (e.g., GP, midwife, health visitor, peer supporter, community champion, charity worker)?
• Do you provide mental health care and support for pregnant women and new mothers (given birth in the last 2 years) experiencing language barriers?
• Would you be willing to talk to a researcher about your experiences of supporting these women?
• To get involved, or find out more, you can email Prof Laura Jones (L.L.Jones@bham.ac.uk).

Women:

• Are you pregnant or have you given birth in the last 2 years?
• Have you struggled with your mental health during and/or after pregnancy? For example, have you felt anxious, worried, sad, depressed or emotional?
• Do you speak little or no English?
• Would you be willing to speak to a researcher about your experiences of accessing and receiving mental health care and support?
• The information you share will be kept confidential and your care will not be affected.
• To get involved, or find out more, you can email Prof Laura Jones (L.L.Jones@bham.ac.uk).

Advocates:

• Do you know of and/or support pregnant women and new mothers (given birth in the last 2 years) with language barriers in your local community?
• Have any of these women experienced mental health difficulties during and/or after pregnancy?
• Would they be willing to speak to a researcher about their experiences of accessing and receiving mental health care and support?
• To get involved, or find out more, you can email Prof Laura Jones (L.L.Jones@bham.ac.uk).

Project Lead

Dr Stephanie Hanley

Email: s.hanley@bham.ac.uk

Study Team

motherproject@contacts.bham.ac.uk