Maternal Care Action Group NZ

04/05/2023

It's Maternal Mental Health Awareness week and as the Founder of Maternal Care Action Group NZ in 2015, I (Kristina Grace - formerly Paterson) am announcing my stepping down from this role after 8 years of advocacy (and one heart attack!) It's time to take care of my health and wellbeing, but who will take up the cause and carry the torch? Please listen to this 3 part episode on the "Out of the Fog with Kristina Grace" podcast starting with Part One: "What the Bleep is Going on in Maternal Mental Health?" https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Qa0DpYtXEhPUSluIUyeXf?si=899ca09ae4914084

Listen to this episode from Out of the Fog on Spotify. Kristina Grace talks about a time where she was described by the news media as an "activist" for Maternal Mental Health and about how and why that happened. In this podcast special she shares part 1 of a 3 part story of what has happened and is...

11/05/2022

On birth trauma appeal to be covered by ACC

04/05/2022

It's Perinatal Depression/Anxiety Awareness week and today's email is by PM Jacinda Ardern acknowledging our annual Maternal Mental Health Report. The first acknowledgement we've received so far - I really hope she does get to read it. And now here it is for you to read too - the latest Maternal Mental Health Report 2022 just released. Included is Mothers Helpers Survey Results on Experiencing Perinatal Depression/Anxiety in 2019-2021

There is currently no one formally assessing mother's mental health. With low awareness, stigma, and no screening, its no wonder women are being failed.

17/03/2022

Please share amongst your networks so that women can have their voice heard.

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30/09/2021

It's Mental Health Awareness Week so your Facebook feed is awash with encouragement to "reach out". It's important people know they can reach out if they need help – but what happens next, asks Emily Writes. Like many, many, many other people, I have quite bad anxiety. It has been described by va

16/09/2021

When a baby is born, whānau and friends gather around to provide kai and help where they can. But one of the more hidden needs of new parents is help coping with the suffering and pain of traumatic births and birth injuries.

There are lots of ways to support new parents, depending on the birth injury. Some can be helped with a few strengthening pilate classes, others might need surgery, and ALL should be covered by ACC.

Sign on to our open letter asking Minister for ACC Carmel Sepuloni to change the law so all parents with birth injuries can get ACC compensation.

https://action.greens.org.nz/better_support_for_birth_injuries

14/09/2021

In 2020, "Out of the Fog" sent out this questionnaire and nearly 600 people responded during Alert Levels 4 and Level 2. The results are now available here: https://getoutofthefog.org/psychological-effects-of-lockdown/ and here: https://getoutofthefog.org/survey-results/ These results were sent to t...

02/07/2021

Maybe it time for some heads to roll at the Ministry of Health? Anyone else sick to death of bureaucracy getting in the way of funding the right services? Mike King returns his order of merit in protest. I have so much respect for this man.

'I deeply regret making that accusation and I apologise to Dr Bloomfield unreservedly.'

20/06/2021

Unfortunately the "stocktake" that the MOH are doing is just one recommendation the PMMRC gave as far back as 2007. The truth is that we already know what the gaps are and we know what services are available, and this has been communicated to the MOH repeatedly over the years. The real question is, will they do something about it or is it just more talk? https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/125458019/ministry-of-health-orders-urgent-review-of-maternal-mental-health-amid-growing-concern-about-women-being-turned-awayn

One woman said she threw her baby daughter into her cot, another was worried she might harm herself. Neither were considered unwell enough to get mental health support.

31/05/2021

4 years ago, Maternal Care Action Group NZ gathered with representatives from the The Labour Party, New Zealand National Party, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand First and Māori Party who all promised to review the gaps in Maternal Mental Health. We planted 8,000 flowers to represent the number of women who every year experience delays in diagnosis and treatment of Perinatal Depression/Anxiety (PNDA) and who will not get access to funded therapy for PNDA. No political party would commit to designating funding to address these significant gaps and a proper review of Maternal Mental Health has not happened. When will we stop neglecting Maternal Mental Health?

31/05/2021

At Kelmarna Organic Community Gardens & City Farm with Whānau Āwhina Plunket, Mental Health Foundation, PADA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa, Mothers Helpers, Mindbodytrust, The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP), Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora, Women's Health Action Trust, Matrescense, Beth-Shean Trust, Refugees As Survivors - New Zealand, Brooke van Velden - ACT List Member of Parliament and Chlöe Swarbrick (plus individual donors) joined us Maternal Care Action Group in donating a tree to represent the 30 women who have died due to maternal su***de since 2006. On Saturday, we planted these trees with a pledge to work towards reducing the number of women dying by su***de during the perinatal stages. Maternal su***de rates in New Zealand are 5 times higher per capita than that in the UK. Maori are 7 times more at-risk of dying due to maternal su***de. No Government has implemented recommendations made by the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee over the last 14 years. I have dedicated the last 10 years to Maternal Mental Health. I do not want to have to return to this beautiful garden to plant another tree - Kristina Paterson