A Hartlepool mum and mental health advocate has reflected on a decade of change as a national awareness campaign marks a big milestone.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (May 4-10), which was co-founded by campaigner Stephanie Addison from Hartlepool, is celebrating ten years of making a difference.

The campaign has grown from a “small but urgent idea” to a nationwide movement.

Stephanie, co-founder and organiser of the campaign through the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, looked back on a decade of change, challenge and growing awareness.

Hartlepool mum Stephanie Addison co-founded Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

placeholder image — Hartlepool mum Stephanie Addison co-founded Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

“I am incredibly proud to see a small seed of an idea grow into a national movement that has changed conversations, challenged stigma, and amplified the voices of thousands of parents, professionals and advocates,” she said.

She said in the beginning, too many parents were suffering in silence and too many professionals felt under-equipped to respond.

Ten years on, Stephanie said the picture has shifted significantly with the campaign having helped bring maternal mental health into mainstream conversation, influence NHS services, and shape training and inform policy discussions.

It is now a national collaboration between charities, NHS services, grassroots organisations, researchers, lived experience advocates, and public figures.

Stephanie has been widely recognised for her work with the campaign including being a finalist in the prestigious Northern PoWEr Awards.

She was also invited to be part of The Princess of Wales’ Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey.

However, Stephanie said access to support remains unequal across the UK and stigma still exists.

“We’ve come a long way,” she says. “But we need to keep going – improving access, breaking stigma, and making sure every parent gets the support they deserve.”