Third of new mothers miss out on mental health help

THE NHS has failed to treat nearly a third of new mothers experiencing mental health problems over the past year, analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests.

Some 40,411 new and expectant mothers received specialist support for problems in the past financial year, including severe anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

But the number seen falls far short of the health service’s own target of 57,000 women a year – meaning up to 16,589 missed out on vital care.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said women and their newborn babies are at risk of “long-term mental health problems” as a result of the shortfall.

Estimates suggest one in five women experience anxiety, depression and other mental health problems following pregnancy. More than one in 10 women experience postnatal depression within a year of giving birth in the UK.

Data from NHS Digital, analysed by the college, show demand for perinatal mental health services is also growing, with more than 93,000 referrals in the past calendar year. The majority (86,604) were referred within a year of their child’s birth. Referrals were highest among younger women, with 16 to 19 year olds three times more likely to be referred than over-30s.

Women aged 20 to 24 were twice as likely to be referred than those over 30.

Dr Jo Black, chair of the college’s Perinatal Faculty, said: “Psychiatrists on the front line are seeing the devastating impact of new mothers with serious mental health problems waiting too long for specialist mental health treatment.

“Many others are not being seen by specialist teams at all, putting women, their newborn babies and other family members at risk of long-term mental health problems later on.”

The college is calling for a Covid-19 mental health recovery plan, including additional funding to support services facing unprecedented demand.

Charities have warned the pandemic has caused a significant rise in mental health crises in the UK. Beat, a charity for people with eating disorders, said this week calls to its helplines have more than doubled over the period.

NHS England said it was “committed to looking after both the physical and mental health of pregnant women”.