Thousands of women suffer with undiagnosed PTSD after childbirth

Thousands of women across the UK develop undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year after giving birth, new research has found.

According to a report, the condition is being missed in at least 15,000 women as many GPs mistake PTSD for postnatal depression, which means they do not urgently receive specialist help.

The warning comes after two damning reports into maternity and neonatal services in England from Baroness Amos and Donna Ockenden, which found that mothers and babies were being failed by the NHS.

The report, conducted by University of East Anglia and published in the British Journal of General Practice, has urged the health service to better equip GPs to ensure more women don’t fall through the gaps.

According to recent figures, suicide remained the leading cause of death among women between six weeks and one year after pregnancy in the UK during 2021-2023.

These deaths have been described as the "tip of the iceberg", arguing that many more women are living with serious mental health difficulties but are unable to access the support they need.

Read full story

Source: The Independent, 29 August 2026