May 1st marks World Maternal Mental Health Day, a day dedicated solely to raising awareness about mental health in pregnancy.
May 1st marks World Maternal Mental Health Day, a day dedicated solely to raising awareness about mental health in pregnancy and to decrease the stigma attached to maternal mental health disorders such as postnatal depression and anxiety.
In Ireland, postnatal depression affects 1 in 6 women in the weeks after giving birth and only half of those affected seek help.
Now in its third year, the Paint Your Bump campaign is back to celebrate and promote Maternal Mental Health Day with events taking place across the country including Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Set up by two mums Fran Buckley and Elva Green, they are encouraging mums-to-be to paint their pregnant bellies and post them to any social media channel along with the hashtag #PYB2019.
Mental health advocate and Paint Your Bump ambassador, Brona English, suffered from postnatal depression after giving birth to her son in 2016.
Brona told us she "struggled for several months" and contemplated ending her own life following her struggle but thankfully she got help.
"I am now living a happy life and pregnant with my second baby due this summer," she said.
She now aims to help as many women as she can, she wants to break down the barriers and let women know its ok not to be ok.
If you want to meet like-minded mama's for a cuppa, chats and bump painting fun, Brona will be hosting one of eleven Paint Your Bump events in the Country Fair Cafe located in Tallaght, Dublin between 10am - 1pm.
Other events taking place across the country in the coming weeks include:
April 25th
- Holistic Nurture, Blanchardstown, Dublin at 10am - 2pm
April 30th
- The Energy Hub, Drumrooske, Donegal Town at 7pm - 9pm
May 1st
- Country Fair Cafe, Tallaght, Dublin at 10am - 1pm
- Bundoran Community Development, Donegal at 12pm - 5pm
- Dublin Body Paint, Dublin City at 2pm - 8pm
- Tuam Yoga & Pilates Studio, Galway at 6pm - 8pm
- Urban Wellbeing, Galway City at 6.30pm - 8.30pm
- Aisling Yoga & Family Wellness, Ratoath, Meath at 2pm - 5pm
- Martello Hotel Bray, Wicklow at 6.30pm - 9.30pm
- Artonomy, Dublin South at 6.30pm - 8.30pm
May 4th
- Essential Wellness Centre, Ballincollig, Cork at 2pm - 4pm
While #PYB2019 is a voluntary run campaign, cover charges may apply at some venues to cover costs. Pre-booking is also advised for each event to avoid disappointment.
Kellie Kearney is a Dublin mammy of 4 kids aged 2, 3, 5 and 9 (and she is expecting baby #5 in May). Described as a self-confessed procrastinator and picker-upper of things, Kellie would never turn down a coffee, loves to travel and shares her every day true to life moments on Instagram.
