What is Maternal Journal?

‘Maternal Journal’ is a project that explores the tradition of women’s diary and journal keeping as a vital, expressive, creative and therapeutic practice. The project works with groups of pregnant women and new mothers, who have a history of mild to moderate mental health problems, and introduces them to the practice of ‘journaling’ as a way of expressing feelings, reflecting on their experiences and as a means to promote good mental health and wellbeing. Creative forms such as the sketchbook, diary, scrapbook or devices such as video diaries, blogging, twitter or instagram are explored. The project involves working with visual and craft artists, poets, cartoonists and writers, who devise creative workshops through which the women are supported to create the journal as a expansive, therapeutic, creative aspect of their care through pregnancy, as well as a long-term strategy to promote good mental health and wellbeing. 'Maternal Journal' is a collaboration between King’s College London’s Department of Psychological Medicine led by Professor Carmine Pariante and artist/midwife Laura Godfrey-Isaacs, brokered and supported by the Cultural Institute at King’s.