The programme aims to raise awareness of how maternal mental health can be affected before, during and after childbirth, and features TV personality Dani Dyer who shares her own experiences of anxiety following the birth of her child.
The documentary team conducted research that found younger mothers are less aware of MBUs, and may be more likely to be separated from their baby if they need admission.
Clinical Lead, Amina Ali and Head of Perinatal, Justine Cawley spoke about their experiences filming, supporting the project, and what they hope the documentary will achieve for mothers who may be considering MBU admission.
Amina said, "We were delighted to be involved in this programme and to have the opportunity to highlight the importance of MBUs. If a new mum becomes mentally unwell, it is key that they know they can be cared for with their baby. Mother and Baby Units mean we can keep mums and babies together if a mother needs psychiatric admission. Supporting babies and their parents together is vital, and MBUs can provide the right environment for women needing a psychiatric admission."
Justine added, "We're grateful to Dani Dyer and Summer Films for highlighting ELFT's MBU and the support available to new parents. Our hope is that this documentary will help to raise awareness of MBUs and encourage more people to seek the support they need."
ELFT's MBU team are proud to be a part of this documentary and hope that it will help to break down barriers and encourage more mothers to seek help if they need it.
The documentary will air on Channel 4 on 1 May and we encourage everyone to tune in and learn more about the important work of MBUs.