In an effort to expand and enhance mental health wellbeing support services, the Scottish government has announced new funding for perinatal and infant support delivered by charities across Scotland.

Third sector organisations providing support for pregnant women, new parents and their families are set to receive a share of £1.5m.

This marks a slight increase from the £1m perinatal and infant mental health funding shared among 34 charities last year.

It has been estimated that up to 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers struggle with poor mental health during pregnancy and the first year of parenthood.

This comes after concerns that ‘vital perinatal mental health support’ is in a precarious position, with signficant inconsistencies in access to support prompting calls for a fundamental shift in perinatal care. 

Now open for applications, the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund seeks to support the work of organisations providing one-to-one and group-based support and care for parents, carers and new babies.

Marie Balment, Infant Mental Health Lead, Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland, said:

“We’re delighted the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund has been opened for a new round of funding for 18 months.

“This will enable statutory perinatal and infant mental health services to work alongside charity partners to continue offering essential perinatal mental health services that support families with babies.

“The contribution of third sector organisations is needed now more than ever, providing necessary support to parents recovering from mental illness and promoting the mental wellbeing of families during a time of vulnerability. This includes vital work promoting positive parent – infant relationships and infant mental wellbeing, which has a lifelong impact.”

Since it first opened, more than 10,000 expectant parents, new parents and infants have been supported by organisations through the Fund.

Kaylie Allen, Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland – which administers the Fund on behalf of the Scottish government – said this early years support is crucial:

“We are pleased to be managing the application process for the next 18 months of Scottish government Perinatal and Infant Mental Health funding.  

“We know from the last three years of managing the fund the extraordinary impact community-based peer, parenting and infant focussed support can make for babies, parents, and families. It is so important that we focus on the early years to give all children the best start in life.”

The announcement comes as Scottish parliament today debates the economic contribution of the third sector in Scotland.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said the government is dedicated to supporting the third sector:

“It is very important that all mothers and their families have access to good mental healthcare throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period.

“The third sector provides vital access to perinatal mental health support, and we are dedicated to supporting them to do so.

“This latest round of funding of up to £1.5m, building on previous awards of over £2.8m over four years, is designed to increase the provision of parenting and infant support, peer support and counselling or psychological support.

“The Fund will enable organisations to provide the services that women and their families need.”

Applications to the fund are now open. The new round of funding will run from October 2024 to March 2026.

Read more: ‘Fundamental shift' needed for perinatal care; Children's health not improving despite good policy; Health poverty hits children halfway through pregnancy; Concerns for ‘significant pressure' on mental health; Medics warn pollution is risking children's health; Psychiatrists in ‘disbelief' over cut funding; Government adds to families fund

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