Abstract
This developmental paper highlights challenges and opportunities at the intersection of a gendered health experience (perinatal mental illness) and employment. Utilising data from biographical narrative interviews and a focus group in the context of UK policing, we bring together ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and Mental Illness Stigma Theory (Fox et al. 2018) to map out and understand the pathways of experience of police officers and staff affected by mental health issues in pregnancy and post-birth. We identify drivers of stigmatization at different system levels and highlight the potential of the meso-system for transforming workplace support.