We took the #HiddenHalf campaign to parliament this month when we held a drop-in event for MPs to meet us and learn more about what we’re doing
MPs from across the UK attended our workshop and pledged to support our campaign – which includes trying to get the GP six-week check to focus more on maternal mental health – in parliament.
Since then, Dr Paul Williams, MP for Stockton South, and Luciana Berger, MP for Liverpool Wavertree, have raised #HiddenHalf in a parliamentary debate.
Highlights include the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable, sharing his family’s experience of postnatal depression in a powerful video.
Vince told us: ‘My mother was sent off to a mental hospital for a very long time and my brother was adopted, which had long-term effects.
‘I believe that if the GP six-week check was properly focused on the welfare of the mother, these things could be picked up and dealt with much earlier and a great deal of grief could be avoided.’
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, told us that his conversation with amazing #HiddenHalf supporter Libby Binks inspired him to support the campaign.
Libby struggled through postnatal depression after the birth of her daughter, with the only real support being a course of counselling which she arranged herself.
He said: ‘I’m supporting NCT’s fantastic #HiddenHalf campaign after a brave mother in my constituency shared her experience of postnatal mental illness. As an MP, it’s really important for me to hear what’s important to the people I represent.’
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