Creative Health and the Impact on Mental Health Support for Women From Minoritized Backgrounds Experiencing Baby Loss: A Scoping Review

Birth. 2026 Jul 5. doi: 10.1111/birt.70092. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Women from minoritized backgrounds experience disproportionately higher perinatal mortality than white women, with stillbirth rates highest among Black women and elevated among some Asian ethnic groups. Despite this, women from the global majority remain underrepresented in National Health Service Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Services, United Kingdom (UK). This scoping review aims to: (i) examine the use of creative health approaches to support mental wellbeing following baby loss among minoritized women, and (ii) identify priorities for future research into culturally informed creative mental health interventions.

METHOD AND DESIGN: This scoping review employed a structured methodology to identify qualitative, quantitative, and gray literature exploring creative health approaches for women from minoritized backgrounds following baby loss.

RESULTS: A total of 1808 records were identified. Following deduplication, 507 records were screened and 22 full-text articles assessed for eligibility and eight included in the scoping review. A content analysis identified three overarching themes: (i) navigating the unseen-meaning, identity, and silence in perinatal loss; (ii) healing through creative expression; and (iii) holding on and moving forward-creative connection after baby loss.

CONCLUSION: Creative approaches supported women in making sense of baby loss by fostering continuing bonds with their baby and facilitating reflection on identity and future direction. Group-based creative methods promoted belonging and helped counter silence surrounding baby loss within communities. However, there remains a significant lack of research in this area, particularly involving global majority women.

PMID:42402010 | DOI:10.1111/birt.70092