Exploring what works well to support mums and dads from pregnancy through the first few years of their child’s life, a new project aims to boost mental health of those involved, and create learning to help improve the services of the future in Moray.

Focusing on the support parents can give one another, the year-long project will see events, groups and surveys hosted by Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC with partners Children 1st and Moray College UHI. Fronting the activity will be a group of parents supported with training and mentoring to lead the project as peer-researchers. They will seek to hear the voices of experience including those seldom heard such as those in more rural areas, minority ethnic communities and young people.

Parents initiated the project as part of a group of Champions, members of the social movement for change hosted by Moray Wellbeing Hub, “When I had mental illness, I felt fearful that I was letting my child down when they were born. I wanted to know things would be ok, I was terrified, and professionals could not do everything to reassure me. I wish I had the right peer-support then as I have now through being a Champion and parents groups. It can be better, and I think we can do it together.”

Mental health challenges in pregnancy and while caring for infants can be stigmatised, both for mothers and fathers, which can stop people getting the help they need to get better. This not only affects parents but their infants and their wider family. Peer-support, where those who have experienced similar challenges support others, has been shown to be successful for many people in improving their sense of connection, hope and empowerment.

Watch the video from our launch event here.

Complete our survey here

What is the Making Recover Real Partnership and why was it established?

Translating the Moray Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy (Good Mental Health for all in Moray 2016 - 2026) into action, the Making Recovery Real Partnership is designed to be a meaningful and mutual balance of lived experience and professional expertise.

The group was established in 2014/15 to co-produce the Moray Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy (Good Mental Health for all in Moray 2016 – 2026: Download Document) into action. In 2018 the Making Recovery Real Partnership and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Group made the decision to merge in recognition of the extent to which the MRRP was driving delivery of the strategy.

You can read more about how the partnership is run and it’s values in the Terms of Reference. Download Document.

Moray Wellbeing Hub have been leading a campaign around Neurodiversity in a bid to explore how we are all wired differently and the impact of the language we use around this on stigma. Autism, dyslexia and ADHD are just some of the diagnosis labels included under the term ‘Neurodiversity’, but there are many more. A neurodiverse community approach harnesses the potential to raise positive and inclusive awareness and celebrate uniqueness of people with different brain wirings. 

The project began in November 2019 and has seen a number of events including walks, focus sessions, creative sessions and our very own ‘We are all Wired Differently’ t-shirt. View the 'We are all Wired Differently' T-shirt

The neurodivergent action group has designed a strength-based leaflet to challenge misconceptions and encourage an open mind to celebrate unique qualities and strengths. Download the Leaflet

Have a look at the Neurodiversity Pathway tool that has been designed to enable people to find the support that is right for them at that time: https://discoverpathwaysmoray.org.uk/  

To celebrate different brain wirings, raise awareness and give it the positive attention neurodiversity deserves, we have also produced a short film, this can be viewed on our YouTube channel: Neurodiversity Film 

In its two-year run the project had already made a difference to those involved. One member of the Neurodiversity action group was happy to share their story: 

“My journey in Neurodiversity (ND) started earlier this year, when I was trying to find information and support for my newly diagnosed Autistic Son. Within this journey I have discovered that my family and myself are Neurodivergent too, as like so many other families before me. 

My stereotypical views prior to this year had clouded my understanding and I want to be part of breaking the stigma. It is tiring navigating the ND journey with so little people and professionals understanding and being aware of what Neurodiversity is. 

Being part of the ND action group through MWH has been uplifting. Being able to give my input, hearing and learning from the other ND's in the group is enlightening. Learning about the other's and their challenges and what helps them cope has helped me understand their struggles and that we can do positive things to make ND lives easier. 

Helping to produce and promote an informative and positive ND leaflet that can be shared instead of the pathological view of doom and gloom in a diagnosis. We need to celebrate our differences, not fear our futures. I am excited to have a "Leaflet" in my hand to give to others so they too can celebrate. To be able to enlighten others, who want some answers, who want to understand, who want some support, who want to be heard. I am looking forward to being a part of more Neurodiversity actions." 

Families Outside in partnership with Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC conducted a piece of peer-research to explore the key question; what keeps people out of prison / prevents reoffending?

Seeking to gather information through a series of engagement methods with offenders, family members, partner organisations and the wider community, we captured the voices of those with lived experience, alongside professional and public opinion. The output of this would then be used to improve access to services and support needed for individuals at risk of offending / re-offending in Moray.

Activity:

1. Online survey open to the public
2. Outreach in community
3. Hosting a specific focus group
4. 1-2-1 interviews with prisoners and family members
5. Creative output to increase awareness of the issues

Summary of project success and learning:
Community justice has proven to be a sensitive subject for people with lived experience, however despite this, and the challenges of conducting research whilst the COVID pandemic continued to impact our activity, we did get data useful for ourselves as partners working to support community justice and the Community Justice Partnership in Moray who asked us to undertake this.

The survey provided a wide range of perspectives and emerging needs, the outreach increased the discussions in the community on this subject and the 1-2-1 interview process has provided meaningful in-depth insight into challenges people with lived experience face.

The learning from this project is to continue to explore mechanisms to attract and engage lived experience from this perspective, seeking a format that best suits the sensitivities of the subject to enable further engagement. The opportunity has arisen to explore providing peer support for family members of ex-offenders, which has been a very positive outcome.

Watch our short video here

View Report