UK Edition
New mothers to be offered NHS counselling by Skype to tackle post-natal depression
New mothers will be offered counselling by Skype under NHS plans to tackle post-natal depression.
An estimated 140,000 mothers each year - one in five - suffer depression, anxiety and other mental health problems during pregnancy or in the months after their baby is born.
But thousands do not get support, with suicide the leading cause of death in expectant and new mothers.
Health officials today pledged to offer more help to women struggling with the "hugely emotional experience" of becoming a mother.
Last year a report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found that 81 per cent of women said they had experienced at least one episode of mental health problems during or after pregnancy. But just 19 per cent were referred for any form of help, with just 7 per cent of women sent to a specialist.
And a national audit of maternity care in 2016 found that 43 per cent of areas provide no specialised mental health service.
Today health officials announced a £23m plan to boost investment in such services, with 200 more health professionals, including psychologists, therapists and nursery nurses offered help, in 20 parts of the country.
The schemes, offered to at least 3,000 pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, are part of a £365m national plan to offer support to 30,000 women by 2021.
Under the projects, NHS bodies will be expected to open “community hubs” for new mothers, offering them advice, referrals to specialists, links in to other care agencies and groups for new parents.
In recent years, a number of figures have spoken about mental health in motherhood, with the Duchess of Cambridge saying had sometimes felt “lonely” and “isolated” as a new mother.
Last month, the Duchess - who is pregnant with her third child - said mothers were left under pressure to be "super happy" - warning that many were not. Speaking to NHS staff who specialise in treating mothers with mental health issues, she said "as a mother, there’s an expectation to be super happy all the time and one in four of us aren’t”.
Claire Murdoch, director of mental health for NHS England, said: “With so many new mums having the joy of motherhood interrupted by mental ill health, improving care, investment and focus on this issue, is crucial.
“Falling pregnant and becoming a mum is a hugely emotional experience, so having expert support available, including working with people’s partners as well as their wider family and social networks, to help manage the upheaval, means that women who are experiencing mental health issues don’t have to suffer and struggle alone.”
The new funding follows a £40m investment since 2016, aiming to bring help to more than 6,000 new mothers receiving access to specialist mental health care by April 2018.
The NHS plans will also see the opening of four new mother and baby units.
Last week the National Childbirth Trust called for improvements in post-natal care, after a national survey by the Care Quality Commission found 72 per cent of new mothers did not see the same midwife after leaving hospital. The survey found 23 per cent said the midwife did not appear to be aware of their medical history, or that of their baby. Less than six in ten mothers surveyed said they were “definitely” given enough information about emotional changes they might experience after birth, with a small drop in the numbers given a telephone number for a midwife or midwifery team they could contact.
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said: “The perinatal period can be stressful and demanding, and women who are affected deserve prompt and compassionate professional care.
“When we asked Mumsnet users who had recently given birth about their experience of postnatal care, they told us that mental health services needed more resources and a greater focus - so it's great to see these funds being made available for this vital aspect of women's wellbeing.”