Duchess Kate Participates in Zoom Calls to Support Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
Kate Middleton carried out Zoom calls with Kingston Hospital, and experts around the country, to raise awareness for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom.
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke with midwives, health visitors, parents, and leading sector experts.
The team discussed the ways in which COVID-19 is impacting new mothers and those expecting new babies.
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from Monday May 4 in the United Kingdom. In response to the important week, the Duchess of Cambridge has taken part in Zoom calls and roundtable discussions with staff and patients at Kingston Hospital in London, and leading experts in the field throughout the United Kingdom.
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is run by Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, and aims to highlight the importance of mental health awareness during and after pregnancy. A press release from Kensington Palace reports, "Typically more than 1 in 10 women will experience a mental illness during pregnancy or in the first postnatal year, and around 7 in 102 will hide or underplay the severity of their illness."
Jennifer Tshibamba, a midwife at Kingston Hospital, revealed via a press release, "We want women to know we’re still here, we’re still open. Even with what’s going on, we’re here to listen to you, we’re still here to make sure we provide you with the best care for your pregnancy, for your baby and support your family."
The duchess has spoken to a plethora of people in response to Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, including Jessica Read, the Deputy Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Katie Massie-Taylor, co-founder of Mush, an online community and app for mums, and Julia McGinley, Head of Parent Support at Netmums, an inclusive online parenting community.
Of the work apps and sites like Mush and Netmums are doing during the pandemic, the duchess said, "As organizations, you’re playing such a vital role giving key information. You’re hugely trusted by the public and therefore the information you provide is a lifeline to a lot of people."
The Duchess of Cambridge is the patron of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The organization, along with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, has developed guidance on coronavirus and pregnancy for healthcare professionals, pregnant women and their families.
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