Dr Andy MayersDr Andrew Mayers was a Principal Academic in Psychology here at BU (now retired). He’s also an educator and campaigner in mental health, specialising in the mental health of parents in the perinatal period.
His recent work on birth trauma pays special attention to the experience of fathers. In March 2024 he contributed to a Parliamentary inquiry and subsequent report on birth trauma.
I see myself as a campaigner, and an academic
My career has had a clear campaigning purpose, as well as an academic one. When there’s something happening in society that needs urgent action, academic research isn’t always enough.
I’ve come to this conclusion after twenty years calling for action on mental health. My first post after my PhD was in a Mother & Baby Unit in Southampton. Back then, there was only a handful of such units across the country, and it was clear that new mothers weren’t getting the support they needed for mental wellbeing. The Lead Psychologist there, Dr Alain Gregoire, was working hard to seek change. A co-founder of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, he – and the new mums I was meeting – inspired my focus in this research area.
Birth trauma has flown under the policy radar
I’d been working on maternal mental health for around ten years, when my daughter went through a difficult birth. The trauma of the delivery itself was understandably challenging for both her and my son-in-law. But I noticed it wasn’t much talked about, either in healthcare or society more widely. The experiences of dads, especially, was being brushed under the carpet. I wanted to bring it out into the open, so I did a piece of research asking fathers about what they’d been through. I heard some quite harrowing stories of birth trauma, many compounded by the lack of communication from healthcare staff while it was happening. Afterwards, flashbacks, depression, anxiety, nightmares and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were not uncommon, even if the outcome had been positive and both mother and baby had survived.
Having used social media to publicise the issue, and to call for change, I found the mainstream media picked it up enthusiastically. Why? I think because birth trauma’s flown under the policy radar yet is relatable for thousands of people. A particular interview on Radio 5 Live got lots of attention, and it snowballed from there.
The way into Westminster
Then, through links with campaigning groups, I was invited to give evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Birth Trauma in the Palace of Westminster. I’d been to Parliament five or six times before for various events, so it wasn’t too intimidating! The Group and its Chairs, Theo Clarke MP and Rosie Duffield MP, were genuinely interested in hearing about birth trauma from fathers’ perspectives. They asked sensible, informed questions and were keen to identify solutions alongside problems. I came away from the session feeling that the opportunity, especially the face-to-face nature of the engagement, was well worth the effort.
I was delighted to see that the final report included my insights on fathers’ experiences, backed up by all the written submissions the inquiry had received from fathers themselves. It also included my concerns about the limitations of the current system. I was especially pleased that they’d included my recommendation that workplaces take a greater role in picking up problems and signposting employees who might be struggling after a birth. When it comes to impact, it’s vital to present solutions alongside problems and challenges. I think suggesting new ways forward – and voicing them – is a key element of translating academic research into effective campaigns.
The APPG report finished with clear recommendations for Government, and prior to the 2024 General Election, then-Health & Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins MP responded at an APPG meeting. She told the Group that more mental health services would be rolled out for mothers, and that the Government’s Men’s Health Task and Finish Group would be looking specifically at fathers’ mental health following birth trauma. I hope the new Government will take this work forward and do everything in their power to reduce the scarring effects of birth trauma on mums and dads.