1 in 10 women are affected by mental health issues during pregnancy or after pregnancy yet few women are identified and receive adequate treatment. Up to 20% of women at some point during pregnancy and for the first year after birth are affected by common mental health problems such as perinatal depression and anxiety. Only around half of mothers with perinatal depression and anxiety are identified and even fewer receive adequate treatment. Most women are unaware of the mental health issues that arise during this time and so early intervention and consistent support are vital.
One major gap in provision that affects the women we support is that they do not have a sufficiently serious diagnosed problem to reach the threshold for support from crisis or secondary mental health services, but they are often too distressed, or lack the confidence and support to access the IAPT services which are primarily aimed at people with low-to-moderate levels of depression or anxiety. Without holistic support with interrelated needs, women find it hard to engage with therapy and the more readily-accessible CBT-based group programmes offered through the NHS.
More children are at risk of experiencing challenges to their early social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.
A report, ‘No-one wants to see my baby’ ( November 2021), confirmed that new parents had high levels of anxiety specifically about the impact of Covid 19, and more worryingly the report stated “We know that when families face stress and adversity, it makes it harder for parents to provide their babies with safe, secure environments and the nurturing care they need to thrive. Factors such as, but not limited to, poverty, mental health problems, conflict and abuse can all impact early childhood development. Research and feedback from professionals have shown that the prevalence and severity of these risk factors have increased for many families over the last 18 months and therefore more children are at risk of experiencing challenges to their early social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.”
We fill that much needed gap with funding from the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group by providing an in-house Peri Infant Mental Health programme for women with complex needs:
- To increase women’s awareness and understanding of perinatal mental health issues
- To educate women on how perinatal mental health issues can affect both her and her child
- To provide support and advice to women to improve emotional and mental health during the perinatal period
- To improve women’s access to mental health services
- To provide a platform of peer support for women who have experienced perinatal mental health issues.
- To provide an opportunity to highlight the impact of a mothers behaviour on infant mental health and child development
- To promote healthy and positive interaction between the mother and child
