Professor Pauline Slade has received the prestigious M. B. Shapiro Award from the British Psychological Society’s Division of Clinical Psychology for her contribution to the field of perinatal mental health.
Given in honour of the late Monte B Shapiro – widely considered the founding father of clinical psychology in the UK – this award is made to clinical psychologists late in their career who have achieved eminence in the profession through their work impacting on knowledge and practice and driving innovation.
Pauline is a Professor in Clinical Psychology in the University’s Department of Primary Care and Mental Health and Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals where she set up the Birth Trauma Clinic. She specialises in developing and evaluating psychological prevention and intervention strategies, with specific interests in post traumatic stress after childbirth, fear of childbirth and maternity workforce wellbeing in relation to work- related trauma exposure.
During her career she has published over 140 scientific papers and many book chapters and service reports. She has received 34 grants totally in excess of £4.25 million alongside always working clinically in women’s reproductive mental health. She has played a major role in the Perinatal Faculty of the British Psychological Society serving on its Executive Committee since 2010 and as chair 2013-2015.
Dr Ross White, interim Head of the Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, said: “The award is testament to the outstanding contribution that Pauline has made over many years. Notably, Pauline has pioneered NHS birth trauma clinics and this is one of the main foci of the new maternal mental health services that are now being rolled out nationally. So her clinical work, research activity and contribution to the profession of clinical psychology have all served to have a significant impact on perinatal mental health.”
Professor Slade said: “I am delighted to receive this award, but much more delighted to see that the importance of mental health in pregnancy and postnatally now being recognised and supported through the provision of services. Health inequalities begin before birth and these services provide an opportunity for preventative and restorative care and can contribute to developing a more healthy, more compassionate and fairer society.”