Informing Perinatal Mental Health Services
The Team.
We are a team of researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience from City University London. We are collaborating with researchers at the universities of Sussex, Kings College, Stirling, Oxford, York, Hull, the NCT and Maternal Mental Health Change Agents. Members of the core project team and research group are given below.
Professor of Maternal and Child Health, City, University of London
I lead MATRIx and specialise in perinatal mental health, particularly anxiety and birth trauma. I have worked in this area for 25 years and before being a researcher I was a mum and single parent which showed me first hand the need for research evidence to drive change in this area. Women’s voices are at the heart of what we do and everyone who takes part in our research has the potential to make a difference. We are very grateful to our MATRIx team and all our participants for helping make this happen.
MATRIx Research Fellow, Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City University of London
I am the research fellow for MATRIx so am conducting the reviews and working with expert stakeholders. I have led the evidence reviews and am currently working on disseminating the findings and recommendations from the MATRIx project. I am a mum and when I was pregnant saw for myself how important the work we do is. I was able to experience the newly commissioned perinatal mental health services myself, and while they were amazing, there is still lots of work to be done.
MATRIx Research Assistant, Centre for Maternal & Child Health Research, City University of London
I was the research assistant for MATRIx. I am a radiographer and completed my Masters in Clinical Research in 2019. I also work part-time as the administrator for the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research at City, University of London. I am pleased to work on MATRIx to make a difference to the care women get in pregnancy.
Senior Lecturer in Primary Care Research, Brighton & Sussex Medical School
I am a Senior Lecturer in Primary Care Research at Brighton & Sussex Medical School. I have worked in various postdoctoral positions at the University of Sussex, Barts and the London Medical School, and Brighton & Sussex Medical School. My research focuses on mental health in primary care and community settings, with a particular focus on methods for using electronic health data such as patient records. My interest in perinatal mental health started with my doctoral research on Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
General Practitioner (GP), Oxford
I am a retired GP with a longstanding interest in perinatal mental health. I previously worked as the GP champion for perinatal mental health at the Royal College of General Practitioners and published the report Falling through the Gaps: Perinatal mental health and General Practice. I also previously worked at the University of Oxford National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit.
Senior Lecturer in Maternal and Newborn Health, Kings College London
I am Senior Lecturer in Maternal and Newborn Health in the Department of Women and Children's Health at King's College London, and Deputy Lead for the Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health Theme of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London. I completed my PhD in the impact of Eating Disorders for pregnancy, birth and motherhood. My current research focuses on maternal and perinatal mental health, and using implementation science to bridge the gap between maternity and mental healthcare services to help optimise care for women and families.
Research and Evaluation Manager, NCT
I work for the NCT as a Research & Evaluation manager and work with researchers in perinatal mental health and vulnerable groups (including young parents, single parents). I have worked in social research for over ten years. I worked in mental health research at the McPin Foundation and completed my PhD in Anthropology, with a focus on gender and economy.
Research and Evaluation Manager, NCT
I am a health services researcher with a background in improving services for women affected by abuse, mental health problems and problematic substance use. As NCT’s Research and Evaluation Manager, I lead the organisation’s academic and clinical partnerships including several studies about perinatal mental health.