Services supporting women and their babies are under increasing strain as the pandemic has increased the mental health risks new and expectant mums face, according to a new report.

Over the past year across the UK, women have become more likely to suffer poor mental health both during and after pregnancy, including anxiety, depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts.

Anxieties increased around the possibility of giving birth during lockdown but without partners present, alongside other fears about job insecurity, rising domestic abuse levels, bereavement, and fears about catching covid-19.

A report commissioned by an alliance of more than 100 leading maternal mental health organisations published today states women of colour and those from poorer backgrounds are more likely to experience mental health problems during and after pregnancy.

The rapid evidence review carried out by the Centre for Mental Health found ‘significant gaps’ emerged in access to crucial services for pregnant women and new mums after covid hit.

Informal support from friends, relatives and networks of new mums also reduced, the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) – the body that commissioned the report – states.

The MMHA, a network of more than 100 national organisations, together with lived experience champions and clinicians, is calling on Ministers to fill the pre-covid gaps in specialist perinatal mental health.

In addition, the wider system surrounding these services, including health visiting and maternity, needs to be protected and enhanced.

The Alliance warns that without sustained funding, many voluntary and community services will not survive despite increased demand.

Bipolar Scotland, the Mental Health Foundation, the NSPCC and the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Midwives are among the MMHA members.

Laura Bennison, Everyone’s Business Campaign Coordinator for MMHA in Scotland says progress in early years policy here has been welcome but sustained investment is still needed:

“Today’s report should serve as a warning siren about the dangers to women’s maternal mental health and potential risks to the wellbeing of their babies. 

“We welcome advances in early years policy in Scotland over the last ten years but this is just the start. Sustained investment is needed to take forward the Scottish government’s plans to develop specialist, community perinatal mental health services in every part of the country. 

“Without a long-term commitment to these services, recent policy advance may not actually be improving outcomes for women and families in Scotland.

“…We need to take this opportunity to review and reframe what support women should expect for their mental health during the perinatal period, and to make sure that we prepare for any future crisis to avoid another loss of support at a crucial time in people’s lives.”

Dr Selena Gleadow-Ware, Chair of the Perinatal Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said there was a risk that a generation of mothers and children would suffer disproportionately from missing out on ‘vital’ support:

“Pregnancy and becoming a new mother can be a wonderful time in life, but it is a period when women are also likely to develop a mental health condition for the first time or experience relapse of an existing one.

“During the covid-19 pandemic there has been an increase in stressors that contribute to mental ill-health in the perinatal period, such as isolation, domestic violence and financial hardship. 

“Services have done their best to adapt, but many women and families have been struggling, with rates of illness rising Women and families have lost out on many supports that normally protect mental health and a generation of babies have been born in lockdown. 

“Last year, we welcomed the Scottish Government Perinatal and Infant Mental Health fund.   This year, we need additional investment so that services can meet the increased demand due to the covid-19 pandemic and ensure that no family is left behind.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “We know looking after the health and wellbeing of new parents is vitally important both for them and their children – that’s why we provided £50m funding to improve mental health provision for families throughout pregnancy and during the postnatal period.

“To achieve this we are working with all health boards across Scotland to expand on existing perinatal and infant mental health services, establish specialist services in communities where they previously did not exist, and support maternal and neonatal psychological provision."

They added: “Alongside this we are working to enhance staffing in mother and baby units and services provided by the third sector such as counselling and befriending.

“We recognise that the third sector provides an invaluable source of support for people, particularly at the moment with the impacts of covid-19. Our Perinatal and Infant Mental Health fund will provide annual funding of up to £1m to help third sector organisations deliver vital services.”

 

Read more: Over half of Scots fear lack of mental health support; Mental health cash boost cannot be ‘one-off’; Perinatal mental health fund recipients announced

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