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Abigail Easter

Dr Abigail Easter

Reader in Perinatal Mental Health

Research interests

  • Child & Family
  • Mental Health
  • Women

Biography

Dr Easter is a Reader in Maternal and Newborn Health in the Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Sciences, at King’s College London. She is an active member of two research groups, the Maternal Health Policy, Systems and Implementation research group in the Department of Women and Children’s Health, and the Section of Women’s Mental Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.

Her research focuses on maternal morbidity and mortality among women with mental illness and bridging the gap between maternity and mental healthcare services. Her current research programme is aimed at exploring ways to improve the health and social care, and maternal and child outcomes, for women who are experiencing perinatal mental illness. In particular, she is interested in the interface between physical and mental health and healthcare services during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.

Dr Easter completed a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Implementation Science and is Deputy Lead for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health Theme. Prior to this she undertook a PhD in the Department of Psychological Medicine, at King’s College London, aimed at exploring the impact of maternal eating disorders on pregnancy, birth, and child health.

She supervises PhD and MSc student research in women’s mental health, health inequalities and implementation science, and leads the Perinatal Mental Health module on the IBSc in Women’s Health. She also teaches on qualitative research methods, implementation science, self-harm and suicide, and eating disorders on BSc and MSc programmes at King’s College London.

Research Interests

  • Maternal Mental Health
  • Perinatal Mental Health
  • Eating Disorders
  • Self-harm and Suicide

Teaching

Dr Easter is module co-lead for the Perinatal Mental Health module on the IBSc in Women’s Health. She also teaches on qualitative research methods, implementation science, self-harm and suicide and eating disorders on BSc and MSc programmes at King’s College London.

Abigail provides PhD supervision to doctoral students in women’s and perinatal mental health.

Expertise and Public Engagement

In collaboration with voluntary organisations and healthcare partners, Abigail led the development of an animation and online resource for healthcare professionals working with women with eating disorders during the perinatal period.

http://www.eatingdisordersandpregnancy.co.uk/

    Research

    pregnancy-extreme-sickness
    Post-pandemic for maternity care for local, regional, and national maternity systems across the four nations

    Post-pandemic for maternity care for local, regional, and national maternity systems across the four nations

    News

    "I can't do another day": Research spotlights women's experiences of maternal suicide attempts

    Researchers at King’s College London conducted extensive interviews with women who attempted suicide during pregnancy or shortly after birth. They found three...

    woman in therapy

    New guidance published on how best to support qualitative researchers

    The guidance has been developed to protect and support qualitative researchers who conduct research and analyse data on sensitive, challenging, and difficult...

    A diverse group of people sit in a circle and have a discussion

    Pregnant women with serious mental illnesses found to be at higher risk of renal failure, heart attacks and embolisms around childbirth

    New research from King’s College London shows that women with serious mental illnesses (SMI) which required specialist care were more likely to have a...

    Pregnant woman sat on a bed resting her hand on her head looking distressed

    Features

    Prioritising maternal mental health through research

    Mental illness during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth affects one in four mothers. It is known as perinatal mental illness and can include...

    1908x558-baby-hand

    Mental disorders are common for new parents – you don't have to go through it alone

    Many new mothers experience mental disorders, and this can be an extremely distressing and stigmatising experience.

    Woman looking distressed holding a small baby

    Spotlight

    Prioritising maternal mental health through research

    Mental illness during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth affects one in four mothers. It is known as perinatal mental illness and can include...

    Mother making eye contact with her baby

      Research

      pregnancy-extreme-sickness
      Post-pandemic for maternity care for local, regional, and national maternity systems across the four nations

      Post-pandemic for maternity care for local, regional, and national maternity systems across the four nations

      News

      "I can't do another day": Research spotlights women's experiences of maternal suicide attempts

      Researchers at King’s College London conducted extensive interviews with women who attempted suicide during pregnancy or shortly after birth. They found three...

      woman in therapy

      New guidance published on how best to support qualitative researchers

      The guidance has been developed to protect and support qualitative researchers who conduct research and analyse data on sensitive, challenging, and difficult...

      A diverse group of people sit in a circle and have a discussion

      Pregnant women with serious mental illnesses found to be at higher risk of renal failure, heart attacks and embolisms around childbirth

      New research from King’s College London shows that women with serious mental illnesses (SMI) which required specialist care were more likely to have a...

      Pregnant woman sat on a bed resting her hand on her head looking distressed

      Features

      Prioritising maternal mental health through research

      Mental illness during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth affects one in four mothers. It is known as perinatal mental illness and can include...

      1908x558-baby-hand

      Mental disorders are common for new parents – you don't have to go through it alone

      Many new mothers experience mental disorders, and this can be an extremely distressing and stigmatising experience.

      Woman looking distressed holding a small baby

      Spotlight

      Prioritising maternal mental health through research

      Mental illness during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth affects one in four mothers. It is known as perinatal mental illness and can include...

      Mother making eye contact with her baby