Supporting high-quality perinatal mental health care (Maternal Mental Health Alliance, 6 March 2023)

Summary

At least 1 in 5 mothers experience a perinatal mental health (PMH) problem, making mental illness the most common serious health problem that a woman might experience in the perinatal period.

This resource was produced by the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) in partnership with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA). It draws together principles collated from a comprehensive desktop evidence review of current policy, research, reports and literature on what good PMH care looks like. It aims to support individuals, services, pathways, multiagency groups and networks across health, public health, social care and non statutory services to consider:

• Where are we now?
• Is the care we currently provide good enough?
• What do families want mental health care in the perinatal period to look like?