Download document: View or download our research report, Waiting for Change
9.7 mb - PDF
Reducing suicide and improving poor mental health on the parenthood journey in Wales
Samaritans Cymru exist to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Wales.
We are committed to helping those who are most at risk of developing poor mental health and suicidality and are strongly focused on the social determinants that affect this risk; the external factors which make life difficult for individuals and communities.
The parenthood journey and the challenging experiences that accompany it can significantly impact mental health and increase the risk of suicide.
There are many common experiences on this journey that are very intense and distressing and they can leave people feeling isolated, scared, low and suicidal.
Despite their commonality, these experiences are often shrouded in silence and afflicted by stigma and shame.
Our project and the research we commissioned, cover the perinatal period, pregnancy, infertility, baby-loss, adoption, donor-conception, fertility treatments, traumatic birth experiences, stays in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and the postpartum period.
Because the parenthood journey can involve common and devastating experiences for so many people across Wales, our current support system should be equipped to respond effectively.
Urgent, accessible and compassionate mental health support should always be available.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
There is a real lack of awareness and understanding of the way in which the parenthood journey affects peoples mental health and suicidality and we are not adequately equipped to support people during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
This lack of care and support in the initial stages of shock or despair, can lead to worsened mental health and increased suicide risk for those affected. We need to do better.
No-one on the parenthood journey in Wales should be left to feel like there’s nowhere else to turn.
The core aims of this project are to:
- reduce suicide in new parents
- raise awareness of the mental health support required for anyone facing challenges on the parenthood journey and improve the outcomes for those in distress – particularly measures and improving crisis care
- tackle the stigma surrounding struggles in parenthood, poor mental health and suicide risk
To begin this project and achieve these aims, we commissioned Listen & Learn Associates Ltd to conduct an online survey to gain a deeper understanding of people's experiences and the level of support needed to improve their mental health.
The people we worked with were between the ages of 18 and 64 and included people of different genders, ethnicities, sexualities and those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. There were respondents from every local authority in Wales.
We would like to thank every participant who responded to our research survey. Your honesty and bravery will help us and many others advocate for change and improve the level of support and compassion provided to those who are struggling to cope.
The findings of this research project show that we need urgent improvement across health services in Wales. We need to do better.
We hope you will join us and help us achieve our vision for this project.
#WaitingForChange
For further information or to work with us on this project, please contact us on [email protected]