1. Minding your Mental Health: Midwives in Mind - and Heart

Happy New Year and welcome to Season 6 of the Maternity & Midwifery Hour!  We find ourselves in the epicentre of a new COVID-19 storm. The recent variant has led to increased infection and sickness in the population, staff shortages, longer working hours and reduced breaks. The first episode of the New Year will take a timely look at strategies and techniques you can adopt to boost your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues, helping you to move into 2022 stronger and more supported. Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery Contributions from: Julie Roberts, Bangor University, Midwives in Mind Kara Davies, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Midwives in Mind Biographies Julie Roberts I came to Midwifery quite late in life having worked in retail for a number of years. I wanted to follow my long-time dream of becoming a midwife but did not think that there was a route for me. Then I found Direct Entry and have not looked back. I am currently a Midwifery Lecturer at Bangor University and love working with the students and out clinical midwife colleagues. Previously I worked as a midwife within Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board in Ysbyty Gwynedd (Gwynedd Hospital) rotating between Antenatal, Intrapartum and Postnatal care. I have always held an interest in the wellbeing of colleagues and particularly in student integration into the placement environment. Kara Davies Kara Davies is a community midwife in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. She will be moving to Cwm Taf Morgannwg in three weeks. Kara is a community Prompt facilitator and she is part of Midwives in Mind. Supported by MATFLIX: www.matflix.co.uk