The MMHA responds to the King’s Speech

The State Opening of Parliament marks the start of the new parliamentary year in the UK. The King's Speech is central to this, and an opportunity for the (in this case new) government to outline its forthcoming priorities and legislative agenda.

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) welcomed the strong focus on mental health in this year’s speech, particularly the commitment to ensuring that mental health receives the same level of attention and focus as physical health.

This is a pivotal moment for the future of perinatal mental health care in the UK which, historically, has not always received the attention or investment it deserves.

Investing in perinatal mental health is not just a moral imperative, it is also economically beneficial. Untreated, maternal mental illness costs ~£8.1bn each year in the UK, or an average of £190m for an average-sized integrated care system.

By focusing on early intervention, integrated care and comprehensive support services, the new government has a chance to reduce these costs and deliver positive change for the mental health of our society, now and for future generations.

New and expectant mothers’ mental health must be valued as much as their physical health, this means making sure mental health is sensitively discussed at every contact they have with a health professional.

Find out how this can be achieved