£23 million funding boost for maternity mental health

NHS England has confirmed that £23 million of extra funding will be made available to improve the mental health of at least 3,000 pregnant women and those who have recently given birth.

Perinatal mental ill health affects up to 20 per cent of women during pregnancy and in their first year after giving birth, with perinatal services playing an important role in ensuring mental health is integrated into overall healthcare at the earliest possible stage of life.

As well as £23 million for approximately 3,000 pregnant women, the wider pool of improvement funding will also allow 30,000 additional women to receive specialist mental health care, in person and through online consultations during the early stages of motherhood, supported by a total of £365 million, by 2021.

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.

“Improving community access to mental health care is the cornerstone of NHS plans to improve services, and the £60 million investment in perinatal mental health will mean women and their families get targeted, specialised support at one of the most important periods of life.”