Understanding black maternal mental health in the UK: Findings from the Black Maternity Experiences Report (Five X More)

Summary

This report explores the experiences of Black women who experienced mental health difficulties during pregnancy and after birth, and what happened when they needed support. These findings come from the mental health questions included in the 2025 Five X More Black Maternity Experiences Survey. It looked specifically at the experiences of 527 Black women who reported experiencing mental health difficulties, to better understand their experiences of accessing support and receiving care. Free registration required to access this report.

Content

Key findings at a glance:

• 62% of women in our survey reported experiencing a mental health problem before, during or after pregnancy.

• 71% experienced mental health difficulties during the postnatal period, compared with 66% during pregnancy.

• 53% said they had never been asked about suicidal thoughts during their maternity care.

• Only 53 women reported receiving a formal clinical diagnosis from a healthcare professional.

• 88% said they had never seen a mental health midwife during their maternity care.

• 61% were not referred or signposted to mental health support.

• 56% were not told how to access emergency mental health services.

• 34% described their overall mental health support experience as good.

• Women valued being asked about their mental health.

• Good care could be transformative with women feeling supported when professionals listened and proactively asked questions.

Related reading on the hub:

• Five X More campaign: Improving maternal mortality rates and health outcomes for black women