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Supporting maternal mental health in Bristol during coronavirus
Many mothers are facing the challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis and caring for children without the usual support that can be a vital lifeline.
Playgroups are closed, groups have stopped running, family cannot come over to help and health visitors can only visit remotely, but organisations across Bristol are rallying to help and fill in the gaps.
As part of Creativity and Wellbeing week, Bristol City Council’s arts development team and Bristol24/7 are shining a light on how organisations are adapting their activities to support mothers’ welfare:
is needed now More than ever
Mothership Writers is a groundbreaking creative writing programme that was a lifeline for many new mothers before the pandemic.
During 2019, nearly 60 women – and their babies – met for fortnightly workshops led by novelist and Mothership founder Emylia Hall.
“As a new mother it’s easy to become so completely consumed by looking after your tiny, infinite baby, that your self-identity can feel compromised,” says Emelia.
Emylia, who is also an author of four novels including the Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Book of Summers, has responded to the current situation by creating a fortnightly newsletter full of creative inspiration, writing tips, and information on future courses.
People can also now read all the stories in the anthology created on the course, Dispatches from New Motherhood, an extraordinary collection of prose and poetry from Bristol mums.
Bluebell Care and Maternal Journal have both transitioned their support services to online and phone for more than 300 mothers who are managing mental health difficulties.
Bluebell Care is offering several new creative online sessions via video and the charity’s Facebook page. This includes the launch of the Maternal Journal course, led by Wendy Proctor, a Bristol midwife.
Maternal Journal provides free online resources, inspiration and information about local groups currently meeting virtually.
Maternal Journal – image by Helene the Illustrator, courtesy of Maternal Journal
Ruth Jackson, CEO of Bluebell, says: “Creative sessions create a sense of calm for mums and a space where they can simply be in the moment for a little while, at a time when anxieties are extremely high and the take up has been very high.”
Paper Dolls Workshop will explore our maternal lineage – the mothers, grandmothers and those women who stand before us.
Artist Pippa Robinson from story-telling project One Story is running the workshop on Wednesday, May 29 at 2pm. Participants will make paper dolls and reflect on their experiences.
The fun creative workshop is also open to non-parents and will be raising money for educational materials for children in Barton Hill during lockdown. There are also resources on the website for people to use in their own time if they can’t attend the workshop.
Mothers Who Make is an international project that mums in Bristol are invited to take part in.
During May, the project is organising Letters in Lockdown, an art exchange between mothers all over the world. Write a letter you would like to receive yourself and in return, you will receive a letter, from another mother somewhere in the world.
Main photo from Mothership Writers (taken pre-lockdown)
Read more: The arts organisations bringing light into children’s lives during lockdown
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