Perinatal Mental Health and Policing Life Conference

This conference aims to raise awareness and drive change around perinatal mental health as an important wellbeing issue within UK policing. Perinatal refers to the time-period of pregnancy to one-year post-birth. Mental illness is sadly common in this period - for both pregnant women/new mums and their partners – with conditions including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychosis. Whilst for some individuals this may relate to a prior mental health diagnosis, many individuals experience complications for the first time in this period.

To date, there has been little research on the intersection between this issue and employment. This event is designed to showcase research within the context of UK policing, and drive discussions around appropriate policy and practice development to benefit police officers/staff and their organisations.

Anyone interested in/involved in wellbeing at work and/or maternity management for police officers and staff, including academics, specialist groups and organisations, senior police staff, those with line manager responsibilities in policing, and those with lived experience.

• Dr Krystal Wilkinson and Dr SJ Lennie: Perinatal mental health in UK policing study

• Dr Keely Duddin and Kendal Wright (The Open University): Maternity experiences in UK policing research

• Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie: Police families’ study

• Dani Gillett from PANDAS Foundation (perinatal mental health charity)

• Rachael McGrath from the Birth Trauma Association

• Sgt Jennifer Sharpling: National Blue Minds working group

• Scott Mair: Dad’s mental health & Fathers Beacon project (support for fathers in frontline occupations)

Biographies:

Dr Krystal Wilkinson is a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and a researcher in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on the work-life interface and wellbeing at work, focusing specifically on solo-living staff, complex fertility journeys (including fertility treatment, pregnancy loss and involuntary childlessness) and perinatal mental health. She is currently working with a range of stakeholders to raise awareness of these issues, and the importance of workplace provisions and support, including the CIPD, various charities and employers.

Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie is a Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society) and Lecturer in the Department of Police, Organisation and Practice, at the Open University. Sarah-Jane specialises in social psychology, emotions in the workplace and the mental health and well-being of police officers. Prior to returning to academia Sarah-Jane served for 18 years as a police officer, to the rank of Detective Inspector. Sarah-Jane is an Associate to the College of Policing, as a subject matter expert in mental health and organisational culture, and leadership. Sarah-Jane’s research focus is on supporting police officer’s emotional wellbeing through the exploration of officer’s lived experience and the impact of organisational culture and leadership on individual mental health. Sarah-Jane looks at the role of stigma, emotional suppression and dissociation in the increasing cases of PTSD within British officers.

There will be opportunities for Q&A and discussion.

For more details please contact: Krystal ([email protected]) or Sarah-Jane ([email protected])

Host or Publisher Decent Work & Productivity Research Centre