The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day 2024 is ‘Mental Health at Work’ – and what issue is more relevant to those who work in the early years sector than supporting the mental health of new and expectant parents?

According to research undertaken by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), 1 in 5 new mums will experience perinatal mental health problems (perinatal meaning the period throughout pregnancy and up to 2 years after baby is born). And it isn't only women who are affected – 1 in 10 new dads also experience mental health issues.

Sadly, 70% of parents will hide or underplay their mental health difficulties, and shockingly, suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the first postnatal year.

The case for investing in perinatal mental health

High proportion of female employees

According to the Department for Education, the early years workforce remains female-dominated (approx 97%) whilst research from leading pregnancy charity Tommys shows that 1 in 3 employees are planning a pregnancy in the coming year. Considering these stats, it’s crucial to build in support for colleagues as they transition to parenthood and return to work.

Sector-specific issues

Working within early years childcare comes with unique challenges —financial pressures, child safeguarding issues, and exposure to bereavement and illness can all increase stress, particularly for those navigating pregnancy or parental leave. Fertility struggles can also heighten emotional distress. Recognising these sector-specific challenges, it is important to provide timely support, empathy and signposting to appropriate services to help employees manage their wellbeing effectively, especially throughout their pregnancy, maternity leave and subsequent return to work.

Building a supportive community

Finally, nursery teams interact closely with families during vulnerable times, enabling them to recognise early signs of mental health struggles and offer guidance and support. This not only supports parents and carers, but will inevitably have a positive impact on the children. While the business benefits are clear, prioritising perinatal mental health ultimately reflects a commitment to doing the right thing for your colleagues and community.

How we support perinatal mental health at Kids Planet

Collaborating with Manchester Metropolitan University, we have developed initiatives to raise awareness and reduce stigma around perinatal mental health among both our employees and the families we serve.

Our top 4 initiatives include:

• Stay and play sessions: It can sometimes feel quite isolating being on maternity leave – away from colleagues and getting to grips with becoming a parent. Stay and play sessions provide colleagues on maternity leave with the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and lend peer support in a comfortable, work-related environment. It’s also an ideal opportunity to check in with colleagues during their mat leave/KIT days and provide signposting to perinatal mental health services where appropriate.
• Enhanced maternity package & policy: We understand the financial impact that becoming a new parent can have and offer a generous maternity package in addition to up to 80% childcare discount for new parents, along with the first month of childcare free. We have also reviewed our Maternity Policy to reference perinatal mental health, reminding colleagues of the many supports that are available.
• Wellbeing baskets: We provide carefully curated wellbeing baskets for all our new and expectant parents. These include self-care items, baby essentials, and perinatal mental health support service information.
• Directing to support: It's essential to signpost individuals showing symptoms of poor mental health towards professional services for early intervention and support. In addition to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program, the Maternal Mental Health Alliance is a UK-wide charity that ensures families affected by perinatal mental health issues receive high quality, compassionate care and support. The PANDAS Foundation also provides free support from conception through post-birth. You can reach their WhatsApp service at 07903 508334 (8am-10pm daily), or visit pandasfoundation.org.uk to book a callback.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far, and as we continue our journey to support the mental health of new and expectant parents, we remain committed to making Kids Planet a workplace where both parents and children can thrive.