The UK’s chance to become a global leader in integrated perinatal mental health care

This World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing on maternal and newborn health. This is a crucial opportunity to highlight the urgent need for better perinatal mental health care.

The WHO is clear: perinatal mental health care should be fully integrated into maternal and child health services. Their 2022 guide lays out how healthcare leaders and policymakers can develop and sustain high-quality, evidence-based mental health support for women during pregnancy and after birth.

The advances in perinatal mental health that have been achieved in the UK, means countries around the world look to learn from us and the improvements we’ve made in specialist care. Now there is the chance for the UK to continue that progress by becoming the first country to fully integrate mental health support into routine maternity and health visiting services.

Why is this so important?

• Women aren’t getting the care they need. Despite an average of 16 contacts with healthcare professionals during pregnancy and after birth, too many women struggling with their mental health still fall through the cracks.

• Both scientific and economic research show that investing in perinatal mental health is not only the right thing to do, but also a sound investment in the long-term health of families and communities.

• This is key to delivering the ‘Best Start in Life’. Supporting the mental health of new and expectant parents is crucial for early child development.

The UK government made a commitment to improve women’s health, maternity care, and mental health support. Perinatal mental health must be central to those improvements.

The WHO says it should be happening, and the UK could be the first to do it.