New mum holds newborn baby over her shoulder and stares into the distance

The Everyone’s Business campaign

Driving change for women and families affected by perinatal mental health problems

The MMHA’s Everyone’s Business campaign calls for all women throughout the UK who experience a perinatal mental health (PMH) problem to receive the care and support they and their families need, wherever and whenever they need it.

Around 1 in 5 women develop a mental health problem during pregnancy or within the early years after having a baby. If untreated, PMH problems can have a devastating impact on the women affected and their families.

In the UK, mental health problems in women before, during and after pregnancy too often go unrecognised, undiagnosed, and untreated.

The MMHA works collaboratively to improve this situation. Together, we want to:

Make all care count

Women and families across the UK need equal access to essential, high-quality perinatal mental health care, including and beyond specialist services.

Find out more

Improve access to specialist PMH care

Specialist PMH services are the foundational building block for PMH care. Our maps show where these services are available in the UK and where gaps still remain.

Discover more

The impact of Covid-19 on maternal mental health

Research commissioned by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance found that Covid-19 has increased the mental health risks for new and expectant mums, and further stretched services supporting their mental health during the perinatal period. 

Furthermore, not all women have been impacted equally by the pandemic. The mental health of women and families of colour and those from poorer backgrounds have been affected the most. 

Together with lived experience champions and clinicians, we’re calling on Ministers to fill the pre-Covid gaps in specialist PMH and protect the wider system surrounding these services. 

Read more about the research and our recommendations for urgent action.

Take action

Everyone who comes into contact with women during pregnancy and their baby’s first years can help support better perinatal mental health.