Grieving mothers who have lost babies have to wait six weeks for mental health help to start, says report

Women experiencing trauma after birth and baby loss are waiting an average of six weeks – four weeks longer than they should – to be assessed by specialist mental health teams according to a new survey by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.

More broadly, mothers are facing year-long waits for general mental health care as a lack of funding leaves “patchy” services throughout the country, the study said.

The charity has published a report highlighting the postcode lottery facing women who need maternal mental health support.

Data from 41 maternal mental health teams in England also found the average waiting time for one-to-one therapy following an assessment is 16 weeks. However, waits across the country varied from 0 to 12 months.

Providing maternal mental health services to all areas of the country was a core target within the NHS’s long-term plan, published in 2019. These services offer a range of help to women including those who have suffered trauma after birth.

Although most areas of the country have a team, access to services is varied according to the MMHA.

Dr Camilla Rosan, Chair of the Faculty of Perinatal Psychology at the British Psychological Society, said while there has been progress, “women and birthing people are still left waiting for months and months, still jumping through hoops and leaping over mountains to get to the evidence-based care they need and deserve. All the while their symptoms are worsening.

“This is time they don’t have – parents and babies simply can’t wait...”

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Source: The Independent, 2 October 2024