Music Therapy for Perinatal Wellbeing: Shared Perspectives of Developing a Specialist Programme to Support Women During Pregnancy

Presenters: Dr Tríona McCaffrey, Ms Pui Sze Cheung,
Dr Sylvia Murphy Tighe & Dr Mas Mahady Mohamad

Chair: Dr Tríona McCaffrey

Pregnancy is commonly a time of great psychological, social and
emotional significance in a woman’s life. It is a period of transition
and new beginnings where self-identity is redefined and
preparation for parenthood occurs. For some women, pregnancy
is a challenging time where specialist mental health supports are
required. This seminar will focus on how the Specialist Perinatal
Mental Health Team (SPMHT) at University Maternity Hospital
Limerick responded to this need by establishing the first Music
Therapy programme of its kind in maternity care services in
Ireland. Developed in partnership with the Irish World Academy
and the Department of Midwifery (UL), this programme has
been commended by the Department of Health (Ireland) for
its innovation in perinatal mental healthcare delivery. Through
a range of perspectives from lived experience, music therapy,
midwifery and psychiatry, this seminar will consider the value
and impact of this music therapy programme to support perinatal
wellbeing.

Pui Sze Cheung is a registered Music Therapist and a health
researcher at the UL. She is involved in several arts and health
studies and is currently completing a PhD research project on
music and perinatal wellbeing at the Irish World Academy.

Dr Tríona McCaffrey is Lecturer in Music Therapy at the Irish
World Academy, UL. Her research and practice primarily
focus on mental health, with particular interest in the use of
music and the creative arts to support perinatal wellbeing.

Dr Sylvia Murphy Tighe Lecturer in Midwifery, Dept Nursing
& Midwifery, UL. Sylvia is a registered general nurse, midwife
and public health nurse. Her research interests include health
promotion, birth related trauma and vulnerability.

Dr Mas Mahady Mohamad is a Consultant Psychiatrist with
the SPMHT at University Maternity Hospital Limerick, and
Adjunct Senior Clinical Lecturer in UL. He has a specific
interest in music and art therapy to support maternal mental
health.

This seminar will be available online also.