1,200 new mums hit by psychosis every year

Illness endangers mother & baby

HUNDREDS of women every year suffer through severe mental health illness after giving birth.

Postpartum psychosis can cause hallucinations, delusions and mania, and endangers the life of a mum and her newborn.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ analysis found up to 1,200 of the 605,479 new mums in 2022 had the psychosis, which usually starts suddenly within two weeks of birth.

The college’s Dr Cressida Manning, chair of the perinatal faculty, said: “It robs women of precious moments with their newborn, and this can be deeply traumatic if they don’t receive compassionate and personalised care quickly.”

It is different to the sadness, anxiety or exhaustion of the “baby blues” or postnatal depression.

Dr Manning said many pregnant women are aware of postnatal depression but far fewer know postpartum psychosis even exists. She said it can cause them to develop significant mood swings, delusions and hallucinations, meaning they are unable to care for themselves or a child.

If not treated quickly, usually in hospital, the psychosis increases the risk of suicide and, in extreme cases, mothers can harm their baby. US data suggests 5% of sufferers will attempt suicide and 4% will commit infanticide. The college said the Government must keep its commitment to ensure 66,000 women with moderate to severe perinatal mental health difficulty have access to specialist community care from before birth for the first two years.

Dr Manning said: “We need to tackle the stigma surrounding psychosis as many women worry they’ll be judged and deemed unfit to care for their baby.

“Mothers need to know they are not to blame for their illness and must not be left to overcome it alone.”

The Department of Health said spending on mental health is more than £4.5billion higher since 2019, adding: “GPS should now provide mental and physical health checks for six weeks to mums after a birth.”

It robs women of precious moments with their newborn, and this can be so traumatic DR CRESSIDA MANNING OF ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS