UK Wedding News
24/02/2017
The survey, supported by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, revealed the impact of low rates of specialist referral, long waits, as well as lack of consensus over medication and little support for their partners.
The survey of over 2300 women, who had given birth in the last five years, explored their experiences of perinatal mental health problems, engagement with healthcare professionals and the quality of care they received.
Of those who responded, 81% had experienced at least one episode of a mental health problem during or after their pregnancy. Low mood was experienced by over two thirds of these women, anxiety by around half and depression by just over a third.
Only 7% of the women who reported experiencing a maternal mental health condition were referred to specialist care and, for 38% of the women who were referred, it took over four weeks to be seen, with some waiting up to a year for treatment.
Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG, said: "Giving parity of esteem to mental and physical health is crucial and we have some way to go in addressing the stigma associated with mental health. No one is to blame for developing a mental illness and as a society we need to be reinforcing this message constantly."
Care across the country varied significantly with a 20% difference in referral rates in some areas, and the type of care received also varied – in one area only 8% of women were referred to specialist maternal mental healthcare services, compared with 50% in another.
Women frequently reported that they received inconsistent and conflicting advice around whether to continue, stop or change their medication. Care was often rushed and women who voiced concerns were shut down or had to repeatedly ask for help.
Lack of continuity of care was often cited as a reason why women felt uncomfortable raising mental health problems with healthcare professionals.
Women described a lack of awareness about the range of mental health problems, and the impact of physical conditions in pregnancy on their mental health was often overlooked.
Bereavement care following miscarriage or stillbirth and support for breastfeeding were also reported as lacking.
The survey also revealed that 12% of women's partners experienced a mental health problem during or after the pregnancy and were provided with little support.
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Only 7% Of Women With Mental Health Problems Referred To Specialist Care - RCOG
Only 7% of women with mental health problems during or after pregnancy are referred to specialist care, a survey by the RCOG has found.The survey, supported by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, revealed the impact of low rates of specialist referral, long waits, as well as lack of consensus over medication and little support for their partners.
The survey of over 2300 women, who had given birth in the last five years, explored their experiences of perinatal mental health problems, engagement with healthcare professionals and the quality of care they received.
Of those who responded, 81% had experienced at least one episode of a mental health problem during or after their pregnancy. Low mood was experienced by over two thirds of these women, anxiety by around half and depression by just over a third.
Only 7% of the women who reported experiencing a maternal mental health condition were referred to specialist care and, for 38% of the women who were referred, it took over four weeks to be seen, with some waiting up to a year for treatment.
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Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG, said: "Giving parity of esteem to mental and physical health is crucial and we have some way to go in addressing the stigma associated with mental health. No one is to blame for developing a mental illness and as a society we need to be reinforcing this message constantly."
Care across the country varied significantly with a 20% difference in referral rates in some areas, and the type of care received also varied – in one area only 8% of women were referred to specialist maternal mental healthcare services, compared with 50% in another.
Women frequently reported that they received inconsistent and conflicting advice around whether to continue, stop or change their medication. Care was often rushed and women who voiced concerns were shut down or had to repeatedly ask for help.
Lack of continuity of care was often cited as a reason why women felt uncomfortable raising mental health problems with healthcare professionals.
Women described a lack of awareness about the range of mental health problems, and the impact of physical conditions in pregnancy on their mental health was often overlooked.
Bereavement care following miscarriage or stillbirth and support for breastfeeding were also reported as lacking.
The survey also revealed that 12% of women's partners experienced a mental health problem during or after the pregnancy and were provided with little support.
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