Mental health support on offer for new and expectant parents
Hospital chiefs in Sunderland are offering extra support to families who have problem pregnancies.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s new Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) aims to support women and partners experiencing psychological distress before and after a pregnancy.
TheMMHSteamismadeup of clinical psychologists and a specialist midwife, trained to deal with a range of issues including traumatic births, the loss of a baby at any stage, fear of childbirth (tokophobia) and fears of hospital or medical procedures.
Lyndsey Hall, the Trust’s principal clinical psychologist, said: “We are incredibly proud to launch this new service,whichwillprovidewomen and birth people with access to specialist support and care.
“Havingababyisoneoflife’s bigeventsandmanypeopleexpect to feel happy and excited but,sadlyforsome,thisisn’talwaysthecase.Traumarelating to the maternity experience is veryrealandcanoftenbeoverlooked.”
She added: “Twenty per cent of new and expectant mums will experience a mental health problem at any time from becoming pregnant and for up to a year after giving birth.
“Mental health issues are linked to poorer outcomes for women, their babies and families. That’s why early detection
and referral is so important.
"Treatment and continued supportcanhavealasting,positive
outcome.”
The service is available to people living across South
Tyneside and Sunderland struggling with their maternity experience and can be accessed by:
*Calling 0191 569 9698 – Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
*Referral by midwife, doctor, health visitor or GP.
*Booking an appointment online.
Fathers, partners and coparents of women accessing support can also be assessed and will be signposted to alternativeservicesaccordingly.
This new service meets the needs of the NHS Long Term Plan which sets out the ambitiontoestablishmaternalmentalhealthservicesinallareasof England by 2023/24.
It aims to integrate maternity, reproductive health, and psychological therapy for womenexperiencingcomplex mental health difficulties arising from, or related to, the maternity experience.