Maternal Journal at St Barbe

About the event

Maternal Journal is a creative journaling group to boost wellbeing for mothers, at any age or stage. Each week there is a creative prompt, in a variety of mediums and styles for you to try.

Paint, collage, drawing, poetry and anything else that can be imagined! Each session has creative prompts, and towards the end of each session there is time to share artworks and reflections.

Alice has been running Maternal Journal since 2022, a series of workshops for mothers in the New Forest at any age or stage in motherhood. There is growing evidence that creativity, in particular journaling, can boost wellbeing and help to combat mild to moderate mental health challenges. Mothers can be particularly susceptible to mental health challenges in the early years postpartum and according to polling from the charity Home-Start UK, 82% of parents feel lonely, which a 2021 study by the Loneliness & Social Isolation in Mental Health Research Network found was a risk and confounding factor for perinatal depression. Many participants report that Maternal Journal has helped them to navigate the changes and challenges that come with parenthood and reduced their isolation by forming strong friendships. Living in a rural town can make it hard to travel to meet other mothers but this groups supports local long-term connections, and encourages connection and creativity.

When:

• Friday 19 September – 12:30pm – 2:30pm
• Friday 26 September – 12:30pm – 2:30pm
• Friday 3 October – 12:30pm – 2:30pm
• Friday 10 October – 12:30pm – 2:30pm
• Friday 17 October – 12:30pm – 2:30pm

Maternal Journal is a series of workshops that run on together building a supportive community, rather than stand alone workshops – please try and attend all sessions if possible. Sessions are 2 hours and all materials are included. There will be a sharing event during the Play on Words Literature Festival.

Where: St Barbe Museum and Gallery, New Street, Lymington SO41 9BH

Tickets are free – book your place through the link below!