An exhibition showcasing Cumbrian mums’ views and experiences of maternity will be held at Carlisle’s Tullie from this week.
The Happy Mums Foundation, in collaboration with Newcastle University, Ways to Wellness and (Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership, will hold an exclusive screening and celebration of See the Whole of Me, a powerful animated film and exhibition voicing the vulnerable maternity experiences of diverse mothers across Cumbria.
The project, which is rooted in peer-led support and lived experience research, aims to address significant gaps in maternal mental health provision, particularly the alarming lack of diversity in mothers accessing statutory services.
The free screening event takes place on Thursday, November 13 from 5pm to 6.30pm and the exhibition runs from Friday November 14 to Thursday November 20.
The film weaves together the unique and often challenging stories shared by Cumbrian mums.
The animation champions the core message of peer support that people are not alone.
The event will feature a screening followed by a discussion with the involved researchers and project partners, along with a big thank you to the mums who participated.
Lucinda Bray, managing director of Happy Mums, said: “This project started with a simple question: What can we learn from mothers’ experiences to help others feel able to seek help?
“What we’ve identified is that mums want to be seen as a whole person, not just a set of symptoms or a diagnosis.
“This initiative is a beautiful example of collaboration, with the voices of our mums at the heart, creating an essential, freely available resource for training and service improvement.”
Dr Caroline Claisse, an Open Lab-based lecturer said: “We found the women that gave so much of themselves and their experience to this project wanted to provide a message of hope for new mums and mums-to-be, but alongside that wanted to place great emphasis on the positive impact of listening on maternal mental health, presenting the idea of ‘listening as a safety net’, while highlighting the consequences of not feeling heard or listened to.
“We are immensely proud of what has been achieved in this powerful animation, which is testament to the strength of working in a partnership, with co-production by those with lived experience at its heart.
“To all the mums that took part, we recognise the bravery shown in sharing their story to help us create it, and want to thank them all for their time, vulnerability and care.”
The animation was funded by INCLUDE+, a UKRI network dedicated to exploring and fostering social and digital environments in which everyone can thrive. The wider research project was supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Digital Citizens
