Sport in Mind join the Maternal Mental Health Alliance

The UK charity, Sport in Mind, an independent mental health charity are delighted to have become recent members of the MMHA.

Sport in Mind who were formed in Reading in 2010 exist to improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity for children and adults.

In partnership with the NHS, they deliver over 150 programmes a week across the country, both in the community and in hospitals, co-designed by people with personal experience of mental health problems and healthcare professionals.

Sport in Mind have a vision of supporting the Mother and Baby Units (MBU) across the country offering opportunities for the women in these units to access regular physical activity classes. There is a wealth of evidence on the many benefits physical activity provides, such as improved mood, reduced anxiety, self-confidence, improved social interactions, improved sleep, cardiovascular health etc. By offering on-going weekly classes, Sport in Mind aim to support women with their wellbeing in order to transition back into the community where there will also be community programmes available for these women to access.

Sport in Mind will pilot their first intervention in the MBU Melbury Lodge in Winchester this year, offering a weekly yoga class to women on the ward. They are also supporting the Occupational Therapist in the MBU attend the This Mum Moves Ambassador training; a CPD endorsed educational programme which aims to empower women to make informed physical activity choices throughout pregnancy and beyond by providing professionals with the tools to discuss physical activity during the childbearing years.

Cathy Carr, Maternal Mental Health Manager said “we are delighted to have become new members of the MMHA and look forward to working in partnership. We are keen to establish new networks in this space to learn from the experts in perinatal mental health and would especially welcome discussions on our vision to support Mother and Baby Units across the Country”.

For more information please get in touch with [email protected]

You can visit our website : www.sportinmind.org or follow us on social media @SportInMind