Recent work: Google/Somerset House, postnatal contraception, and mental health at festivals

July saw me back at Google Arts & Culture, working with them on a couple of projects – including one with Somerset House, which explores their Summer 2019 programme of exhibitions, projects and events celebrating immigration, diversity, identity, and black creativity. I also wrote features for both Patient and Refinery29, respectively exploring new mums’ contraceptive options after giving birth, and mental health support at the summer’s music festivals.

Somerset House – for Google Arts and Culture:

I worked with Somerset House as a content editor, supporting them to create content celebrating and archiving their Summer 2019 programme – featuring the Get Up, Stand Up Now and Kaleidoscope exhibitions, and the Backgrounds photography project.

You can view the project in full at Google Arts & Culture.

What to do about contraception after giving birth – for Patient:

Sex is probably the last thing on your mind in the immediate aftermath of giving birth. But with half of new parents returning to sexual activity within six weeks, it’s worth considering your postpartum contraceptive options early on, so you’re covered when the time comes.

“We know that fertility can resume quite soon after childbirth – as early as three to four weeks in women who are not exclusively breastfeeding, which I think is much earlier than a lot of couples realise,” explains Dr Michelle Cooper, a gynaecologist, researcher, and spokesperson for charity Wellbeing of Women.

“We also know that sexual activity can resume earlier than we might think. At least 50% of couples will have started having sex again by six weeks. So these two things combined means that women are actually at quite high risk of an unintended pregnancy in those early weeks and months after giving birth, unless they’re using some form of contraception,” she adds.

Continue reading at Patient…

How To Look After Your Mental Health At Festivals, Despite Drugs, Booze & Crowds – for Refinery29:

With Glastonbury already been and gone, and Camp Bestival on the horizon, summer 2019’s festival season is well and truly upon us. If it’s been a tough first half of the year, losing yourself in the music and partying with your mates for a weekend can provide the ultimate escape – but the chaotic nature of festivals, and the abundance of alcohol and drugs, could also bring up some trickier feelings and send your mental health spiralling.

Struggling with your mental health at a festival can feel bewildering and isolating – especially if the thousands of people around you all seem to be having the time of their lives. But you should be able to find mental health support at most of the UK’s major music festivals, to help you take a step back from the noise and talk things through over a soothing cup of tea.

Community interest company Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England works with St John Ambulance to deliver training in mental health first aid across the country, with nearly half a million people trained in MHFA England skills so far. Chief Executive Simon Blake OBE tells me they’re working towards a future where all events have first aiders equipped to tackle both mental and physical health issues.

Continue reading at Refinery29…