Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie and Dr Keely Duddin receive award for Services to Women in Policing

On 18 June our very own Drs SJ Lennie and Keely Duddin, together with Dr Krystal Wilkinson (Manchester Metropolitan University), pictured here on the left with SJ, received an award from the Greater Manchester Police Association for Women in Policing for their Services to Women in Policing in recognition of their research into Perinatal Mental Health and Police Life. 

The national study interviewed 18 men and women from 11 UK forces, who had lived experience of perinatal mental illness.  Working with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) they held a multi-stake holder focus group including representatives from within GMP, local perinatal mental health services and perinatal mental health academics.  

This led to the first National Police Conference on Perinatal Mental Illness, hosted by GMP and led by the research team. 

Following on from this, the research team, in collaboration with GMP developed the New and Expectant Parent Mental Health Supervisor Toolkit – which has been launched in the force. This toolkit aims to educate line managers on the topic of perinatal mental health and the intersection with police employment; and the importance of sensitive handling and working in dialogue with affected employees. It provides a step-by-step flow-chart to guide the supervisor through each stage of the maternity and/or paternity journey in that way that maximises the likelihood of mental health-related disclosures and a supportive organisational response. 

This was complimented with a review of the existing Maternity Risk Assessment where changes were made to specifically include mental health and links back to the Supervisors Toolkit. 

Learn more about the study.