Improving Perinatal Mental Health (IMPROVE)
The Improving Perinatal Mental Health Health Integration Team (IMPROVE HIT) is a team of mental health practitioners, women and children's health practitioners, commissioners and academics, working together to improve the identification of, services and support for parents with mental health issues before and after the birth of their child.
Improving the mental health of mothers and fathers during pregnancy and in the first postnatal year is a health priority, not only because it's important for parents but it's crucial for the health and wellbeing of the next generation. Despite being the focus of a NICE guideline and many reports, progress to improve the mental health and wider emotional well-being of parents remains limited.
Latest news and events
Bristol Health Partners conference puts lived experience at heart of health research
14 October 2021
Bristol Health Partners held its annual Conference on Tuesday 12 October 2021. Like last year, the event was held online due to the ongoing pandemic, with more than 110 academics, clinicians, commissioners and others from organisations across Bristol, Sou...
Bristol Health Partners works with hospital charities on new programme of support to benefit thousands in the community
23 September 2021
Bristol Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) has joined forces with Bristol’s hospital charities on an innovative programme of support to benefit thousands in the community. Above & Beyond, Southmead Hospital Charity and...
NIHR reproductive health and childbirth research symposium
18 October 2021
This free series is open to all research staff or those interested in reproductive health and childbirth research in areas in the south of England covered by the NIHR clinical research networks of South West Peninsula, West of England, Wessex, and Thames ...
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT 2020-21 update
20 July 2021
Co-directors Dr Jonathan Evans and Ruth Jackson reflect on IMPROVE HIT's achievements in 2020-21Over the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMPROVE HIT has played a key role in bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in the perinatal menta...
HIT Conference goes virtual to address the impact of COVID-19 and wider health inequalities
20 October 2020
Bristol Health Partners held its annual Health Integration Team (HIT) Conference as an entirely virtual event this year because of the pandemic. The event, “COVID-19 Call to Action: What else can we achieve in health and social care?”, took place b...
Improving Perinatal Mental Health (IMPROVE) HIT reflect on 2019-20
7 May 2020
Improving Perinatal Mental Health Health Integration Team (IMPROVE HIT) Directors Dr Jonathan Evans and Ruth Jackson reflect on the team’s achievements in the last year. In the past 12 months, we have focused on completing the evaluation of the current...
HITs secure £2.9 million in research funding in 2018-19
5 June 2019
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) have attracted nearly £2.9 million in research funding to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire during 2018-19, for nearly 40 different projects.
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT review for 2018-19
24 May 2019
Dr Jonathan Evans, Director of the Improving Perinatal Mental Health Health Integration Team (IMPROVE HIT), gives an update on progress in 2018-19.
Bristol Health Partners to invest £176k in its Health Integration Teams
13 May 2019
Health Integration Teams (HITs) are set to benefit from £176k of investment from Bristol Health Partners in 2019-20. HITs requested funding from the partnership for a wide variety of projects, with the majority receiving funding.
Researchers explore ups and downs of early parenthood thanks to new funding
23 October 2018
New Wellcome Trust funding means researchers from the University of Bristol can undertake a new study exploring fathers' early parenting experiences.
Health Integration Teams secure nearly £1.5 million in the first quarter of 2018/19
24 September 2018
Bristol Health Integration Teams (HITs) have secured £1,438,000 of funding in the first quarter of 2018/19. This impressive contribution to the local health and care system is the result of efforts from a range of HITs.
Health Integration Teams attract nearly £4.7 million in 2017-18
15 June 2018
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) have attracted nearly £4.7 million in funding to the local health system in 2017-18.
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT review for 2017-18
11 May 2018
Dr Jonathan Evans and Inge Shepherd, Directors of the Improving Perinatal Mental Health Health Integration Team (IMPROVE HIT), give an update on progress in 2017-18.
The winners of the Bristol Health and Care Awards 2017
31 October 2017
The city’s heroes of healthcare were recognised at a sparkling event hosted by the Bristol Post on Wednesday 25 October 2017.
Calling all dads…let’s talk
14 August 2017
Talking about the highs, and understanding the lows, of being a dad is the theme of a new project led by an inter-disciplinary team of academics from the University of Bristol.
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT review for 2016-17
22 May 2017
Dr Jonathan Evans and Inge Shepherd, Directors of the Improving Perinatal Mental Health Health Integration Team, give an update on progress in 2016-17, including the successful application for a new specialist community perinatal mental health service.
HITs bring nearly £4m in funding to the region in last nine months
27 March 2017
Health Integration Teams (HITs) have brought £3,988,121 of funding to the region since July 2016. Some of these awards are for research, while others are for service innovation.
Mental Health HIT seminar proves a hit with commissioners
26 January 2017
Commissioners, researchers and people from voluntary organisations heard from Bristol Health Partners HITs seminar on 23 January. The theme of the seminar was 'Improving mental health care pathways across the STP footprint.
£1.3m mental health funding boost for new and expectant mothers
1 December 2016
New and expectant mothers in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire will now have access to specialist mental health support, thanks to new funding from NHS England.
Healthwatch Bristol publishes guide for public involvement in mental health services
9 September 2016
Healthwatch Bristol has published a guide for patients and the public, to help them find out how they can make their voices heard on local mental health services.
Health Integration Team model evaluation paper published
1 July 2016
The results of NIHR CLAHRC West's preliminary evaluation of the ‘Health Integration Team’ model have been published in BMC Health Services Research.
Our 2015-16 annual review is out now
27 June 2016
Our 2015-16 annual review was launched at our annual Health Integration Team (HIT) conference on 17 June. The Bristol Health Partners annual review showcases the work of the partnership and includes updates from most of our 20 HITs and a round-up of the...
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT review for 2015-16
24 May 2016
Dr Jonathan Evans and Inge Shepherd, Directors of the Improving Perinatal Mental Health Health Integration Team (IMPROVE HIT), give an update on progress in 2015-16.
Maternal mental health matters
4 May 2016
Today is the first World Maternal Mental Health Day organised by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. One in five mothers experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy, birth and the early months of their child's life, but women don’t have to suffer...
Funding awarded for Bluebell Place
12 November 2015
Bluebell, a charity based in Bristol supporting families who are affected by antenatal or post-natal depression has been awarded £165,130 from The Big Lottery Fund to open a central Bristol hub.
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT review of 2014-15
24 May 2015
Dr Jonathan Evans and Inge Shepherd, Directors of the Improving Perinatal Mental Health (IMPROVE) Health Integration Team, give an update on progress in 2014-15.
Improving Perinatal Mental Health HIT given go ahead
2 October 2014
A new Health Integration Team (HIT) to improve the mental health of parents from conception through to the first year after their child’s birth, has been approved by the Bristol Health Partners Executive Group.
Three new Health Integration Teams given go ahead
11 June 2014
Three new Health Integration Teams have been given the green light by Bristol Health Partners Executive Group. The new teams focus on perinatal mental health, immunisation and vaccines, and psychological therapies.
