ARC South London researchers Kaat De Backer and Abigail Easter, alongside the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), have won a King’s Engaged Researcher Award for a study on maternal suicide. The ASPEN (Attempted Suicide in the PEriNatal period) study won the 'Communicating Research: National' category. 

The annual awards, which celebrate best practice in public and community engagement with research at Kings’, were held on 16 January at The Great Hall, King’s College London’s, Strand Campus. Winners were selected from a total of 100 nominations received by the King’s Engaged Research Network (KERN) Working Group. 

Abigail Easter and Kaat de Backer receiving their King's Engaged Researcher Award

Abigail Easter and Kaat de Backer receiving their King's Engaged Researcher Award

What’s really at the heart of it [the awards] is very much what we do needs to make an impact on others. And public and community engagement with research is a very good example of that.

Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Vice President (Research and Innovation), King’s College London

Suicide is a leading cause of maternal death during pregnancy and the year after birth (the perinatal period). The ASPEN study explored the experiences of women who had attempted suicide during the perinatal period, and that of their partners, friends, or family members. 

The research team worked closely throughout with a group of women with lived experience of perinatal mental health difficulties, key stakeholders and voluntary sector partners to shape the design and delivery of the research.  

Some of the ways in which the research team helped to raise awareness of the difficulties women can face during pregnancy and early motherhood, include:

The team are now taking this work forward in the current ARC extension period to co-develop and implement approaches to practice to improve suicide prevention strategies for pregnant women and new mums, (a key recommendation from the recent national suicide prevention strategy for England).

We were absolutely delighted for the ASPEN study to be recognised with this award. We hope that this research has helped to raise awareness of the difficulties that some women can face during pregnancy and early motherhood and helps others who may be feeling the same. We are hugely grateful to those who bravely shared their personal experiences, and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance for their advocacy.

Dr Abigail Easter, lead investigator, reader in perinatal mental health, King’s College London and Kaat De Backer, lead author, research associate, King’s College London

Kaat de Backer, Abigail Easter and Vita Moltedo at the awards

Kaat de Backer, Abigail Easter and Vita Moltedo at the awards

“Experts by experience: Who knows best?”, an exhibition and event series co-produced by King’s and peer researchers, was also nominated in the Collaboration (Local) category.  

Displayed at Science Gallery London from April-June 2024, the exhibition challenged the idea of ‘the expert’ and explored the limitations of traditional approaches to research through interactive games, case studies and a manifesto.  

I felt proud and humbled to be in a room with people who through effort, hard work and openness to others have achieved such fantastic success. Though it was disappointing not to be the category winner, it was amazing to be part of the awards and to have extra exposure through it.

Vita Moltedo, co-founder of Maternity Voices Matter and public involvement member of ARC South London's maternity and perinatal mental health theme

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