Manchester Met researcher appointed as Maternal Mental Health Alliance ambassador

A Manchester Met academic, whose research has positively impacted women’s health and wellbeing at work, has been announced as the first-ever ambassador of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA). 

Dr Krystal Wilkinson will use her skills and experience to help the MMHA explore perinatal mental health at work and drive positive change for new and expectant parents in the workplace.  

The MMHA is a UK charity and network of 130 organisations, dedicated to ensuring women and families affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care. 

With the appointment of Dr Wilkinson, and the support of her research and expertise, the charity will continue its work to raise awareness and break the silence around mental health problems before, during and after pregnancy. 

Dr Wilkinson, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management at Manchester Met, said: “I am incredibly proud and grateful to be associated with such amazing people and organisations fighting for change. 

“As a work-life interface researcher, my focus has increasingly been on ‘absent narratives’ in workplace policy and practice when it comes to employee health and wellbeing. When I experienced severe mental illness after the birth of my little boy, my positive workplace experience was a key part of my recovery, and yet I soon realised that this was probably quite rare.   

“I have since been advocating for better support for others - trying to shine a light on perinatal mental health in the workplace and ensuring that organisational provisions are evidence-based.” 

Dr Wilkinson has already worked with many of the organisations that are part of the MMHA network. 

This work has included the creation of the PANDAS Foundation HR toolkit, which is based on her research findings and designed to educate and upskill businesses to support employees who may experience perinatal issues. 

The toolkit has already informed new approaches and policies at organisations including the NHS and Greater Manchester Police. 

Dr Wilkinson has also represented the MMHA at a House of Lords roundtable event - in partnership with Policy Connect and the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group (APHG) - to discuss the mental health needs of working people during the transition into parenthood, and how businesses can provide better support. 

Justin Irwin, CEO of the MMHA, said: “The MMHA is grateful that Dr Wilkinson will be supporting our efforts to make workplaces more psychologically safe for new and expectant parents. We’re particularly delighted to have as our first ambassador someone who can call on both professional and personal knowledge and experience, and who does so with such compassion and credibility. 

“Krystal’s growing body of research and advocacy work is already helping to increase awareness and understanding of perinatal mental health needs at work and having real impact. We hope that by combining our efforts, we can ensure families get the support that is so often lacking – and encourage businesses to be much more family-inclusive.”