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Analysis by leading psychiatrists shows that, due to the pandemic, thousands of pregnant women in England cannot get important help for their mental health.
In 2020-21, 47,000 people are expected to receive perinatal mental health services to help relieve anxiety and depression during or after childbirth, but only in the latest data for the 2020 calendar year, only 31,261 people managed to get help. Analysis from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
As many as one in five women have perinatal mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and other conditions that occur during pregnancy or during the first year after the child is born.
The Royal College of Psychiatry found that epidemics are not the only reason why the mental health of thousands of women is neglected. Due to the lack of local investment in perinatal mental health services, disparities in care across the country mean that in many parts of England, pregnant women and other newcomers cannot get support.
The Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatry, Trudi Seneviratne, said: “In this very challenging era, the perinatal mental health staff do everything to support women, but the services are not Under unprecedented pressure. Funding for mental health facilities is long overdue, but it is even more urgent in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Vicki Nash, head of Mind’s policy, campaign and public affairs, said the findings were “deeply worrying.”
“More broadly, women are one of the few groups that bear the brunt. They play many caring roles in work and family education, leading to the deterioration of women’s mental health,” she said.
The Royal College of Psychiatry is calling for funding in the next expenditure review. Psychiatrists also called on local health directors in certain areas to resolve long-standing funding problems.
Before the pandemic, perinatal mental health support was generally on the right track. In 2019-20, 30,625 women received perinatal mental health services, compared with the expected 32,000 listed in the NHS long-term plan.
In all parts of England, it is estimated that at least 7.1% of pregnant women and new mothers need support from mental health services. North-central London is the worst performing region in the country, with only 150 out of 1,521 pregnant or new mothers expected to receive expert support and manage to get it.
Ryan Howlett, 34 years old, After her first child was born five years ago, she experienced postpartum depression. In 2019, her youngest daughter was born with a similar problem. However, this time, due to her mental health and her daughter being five months old, the epidemic also hit.
Howlet said: “Before the coronavirus, I would have a nurse come to see me at home and make appointments with a psychiatrist every week, and then all these face-to-face meetings overnight turned into conference calls,” he added. It’s more difficult to talk about big issues like this. Suicidal thoughts remotely.
She also lost the support of friends and family, and her son could no longer go to kindergarten, which made her feel lonely. “Suddenly, I really felt that I was completely on my own. Despite the support, the situation was different.”
Howlett said she is worried that the service will now be provided permanently over the phone and that more funds are needed.She is also worried Reduce healthy visitors, Noticed that during these dates, mothers often “reach out a helping hand” and “seeking help.”
“It’s in the weighing clinic [when the baby is weighed after birth] The woman stretched out her hand. I will not pick up the phone to ask for help. If there is no weighing clinic, then the new mother will not meet the professionals face-to-face after giving birth,” she added.
An NHS spokesperson said: “We have ensured that specialized perinatal mental health services are available throughout the country. As part of our long-term plan, we will continue to expand so that at least 66,000 women can receive specialist care every year through 2023-24.
“This expansion includes the recently announced center, which provides one-stop maternity services, reproductive health and psychotherapy services for women who have mental health needs due to reproductive experiences.”
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