WGPlus (Archive)
Having a baby creates physiological & mental changes |
NHS England has confirmed that new & expectant mums will be able access specialist perinatal mental health community services in every part of the country by April next year. The health service is now spending £23m rolling out the second wave of community perinatal services to underserved parts of the country and is on course to achieve full geographical coverage, when as recently as 2014 it was estimated that only 3% of the country had good access to perinatal mental health care. Specialist community perinatal mental health teams can offer psychiatric & psychological assessments and care for women with complex or severe mental health problems during the perinatal period. They can also provide pre-conception advice for women with a current or past severe mental illness who are planning a pregnancy. Practical new guidance has also been published to help local health care systems as they put their plans into action and support community teams to deliver high quality and safe care. One in 5 women will experience a mental health problem during their pregnancy and in the first year after birth, with depression and anxiety disorders being the most common. |
Researched Links: |
NICE: Antenatal & postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance EHRC: Manchester employers unite to support pregnant women and new parents NHS England: The Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways |