Everyone who comes into contact with women before, during or after pregnancy has the opportunity to provide mental health support.

By taking a proactive, rounded approach to perinatal mental health (PMH), the significant human and economic costs of undiagnosed or untreated PMH problems can be minimised.

The MMHA is calling for:

All women and families across the UK to have equitable access to comprehensive, high-quality PMH care, including and beyond specialist services.

This includes:

• A confident, well-equipped workforce delivering excellent, safe PMH care and support.
• Care for all women, including those impacted by inequalities.
• Specialist PMH services that meet national standards and act as a catalyst for change within the wider system of care.

What is essential perinatal mental health care?

Whilst everyone who comes into contact with women before, during or after pregnancy has the opportunity to provide mental health support, ‘Make all care count’ highlights and defines the essential services that can dramatically affect the lives of women with, or at risk of, poor maternal mental health.