NHS England (NHSE) has announced that it has seen record numbers of women accessing specialist perinatal mental health support.
NHS statistics show that over 57,000 new and expectant mothers received specialist mental health support between March 2023 and February 2024. This is up a third compared to the previous year, with just over 43,000 women accessing this type of help between March 2022 and February 2023.
Women can be referred to these services from primary care, specifically at their GP check-ups within six weeks of giving birth.
These routine appointments are an opportunity for women to be referred to things like NHS Talking Therapies or one of the 40 Maternal Mental Health Services established across England – if appropriate.
NHSE revamped the process of the postnatal GP appointments in December last year, when they published new guidance in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners directing GPs to provide new mothers with more personalised care.
Despite the progress, there is more work to be done according to health leaders.
With approximately 600,000 women giving birth in England each year and perinatal mental illness impacting up to one in five of those women, NHS Providers says that funding is the name of the game.
Responding to NHSE’s announcement, the organisation’s deputy chief executive, Saffron Cordery, said: "Trusts have been working hard to provide mental health support for expectant and new mums.”
Worryingly though, there are still “significant levels” of unanswered need, according Saffron.
NHS Providers argues that perinatal mental health services need sustained funding, backed by a wider approach to prevention and early intervention – particularly community mental health, public health and social care services. Committed investment in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan can be the backbone of this.
A national focus on tackling the wider determinants of health, including health inequalities should be included in this work too.
The need for long-term focus is a sentiment shared by the royal colleges.
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Perinatal mental illness impacts many new and expectant mothers, and it is encouraging that more women than ever are accessing perinatal mental health services.
“Despite this progress there is still more work to do. As outlined in our perinatal mental health roadmap, it is vital we remain focused on recruiting and retaining our midwifery workforce, so services can support ever-increasing demand.”
Dr Ranee Thakar, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ president, added: “It is crucial there continues to be a focus on ensuring equitable access to mental health support for all, so that signs of poor mental health are picked up early, and women can access the care and support they need.”
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